---
title: "Provision of Cambridge City Centre District Heat Network"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-06568b"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-06568b"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06568b.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06568b.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Planning"
buyer: "CAMBRIDGE CITY COUNCIL"
published: "2026-02-17"
---

# Provision of Cambridge City Centre District Heat Network

Buyer: CAMBRIDGE CITY COUNCIL  
Current stage: Planning  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-06568b

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## Summary

Cambridge City Council has initiated a public procurement process for the provision of the Cambridge City Centre District Heat Network. This project falls under the industry category of urban development construction and energy-related services, with specific focus on district-heating mains and heating works. Located in Cambridge, UK (region UKH12), the procurement stage is currently in planning, with the Council seeking engagement from potential partners for early market testing. Key dates include meetings scheduled between 23rd February and 6th March 2026, and formal procurement anticipated for Q3 2026, subject to Council Cabinet approval and funding. The construction phase is planned from 2027 to 2042, with phase 1 heat connections targeted for 2030.

This tender offers significant business growth opportunities, especially for companies experienced in Design, Build, Operation, and Maintenance (DBOM) services including metering and billing. The project aims to develop a low carbon network utilising air and river source heat pumps, contributing to decarbonisation efforts in a city of global importance. The opportunity is well-suited for businesses specializing in energy solutions, heating infrastructure, and consultancy services. An open procurement method ensures competitive access, fostering participation from entities that align with the strategic vision of expanding the heating network across Cambridge. This venture, supported by various academic institutions and public-sector organisations, holds promise for long-term collaboration and innovation in sustainable urban development.

## Notice

Since June 2023 Cambridge City Council has been working with consultants and academic partners to develop an Outline Business Case for a City Centre District Heating Network. Detailed Project Development has now completed, proposing a low carbon network using air source and river source heat pumps, and supported by a transition to electric boilers from gas boilers to supplement peak heat demand. This work has been brought forward through a partnership between the City Council, the County Council, and 19 Academic institutions with significant heating demand in the city centre. Connections to many of these partner heat loads now forms the basis of the Minimum Viable Product identified for delivery through a Partner-invested Joint Venture Partnership, and with strategic ambition to expand such a network across the City in the long term, informed by an informal Heat Zoning review which has also been completed. A Cambridge City Centre Heat Network represents a timely and valuable opportunity for Cambridge's academic institutions and public-sector organisations, who all share ambitious decarbonisation goals, and we are now seeking expressions of interest from potential partners who wish to be appointed to the established partnership to provide Design, Build, Operation and maintenance Services, inclusive of metering and billing. We feel that establishment of a new district heating network in a city of Global significance is a momentous opportunity, and we wish to procure a DBOM partner who shares our vision and understanding of the opportunities which this may bring. We request that all interested parties put forward contact details for appropriate representatives who wish to be involved with early market testing on the Contracting opportunity, with meeting dates to be confirmed between 23rd February and 6th March 2026. Please contact procurement@cambridge.gov.uk The Council will be represented by Amberside Advisors, who together with Buro Happold and Sustainability Co have provided specialist consultancy services for the DPD Study. Formal procurement is anticipated for Q3 2026, and remains subject to both Council Cabinet approval, and successful receipt of Funding from the Green Heat Network Fund, for which bidding is targeted in March/April 2026. Procurement is anticipated to seek Commercial stage services, moving into a main contract and formal start of works by end-2027. A Phased 5-10yr constriction period is anticipated, with first heat on for phase 1 connections targeted for 2030.

### Planning Information

We request that all interested parties put forward contact details for appropriate representatives who wish to be involved with early market testing on the Contracting opportunity, with meeting dates to be confirmed between 23rd February and 6th March 2026.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/014537-2026 |
| Notice type | UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Works |
| Procurement method | Open |
| Procurement method details | Below threshold - open competition |
| Tender suitability | Not specified |
| Awardee scale | Not specified |
| All stages | Planning |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 17 Feb 2026 |
| Submission deadline | 15 Dec 2026 |
| Future notice date | 31 Oct 2026 |
| Award date | Not specified |
| Contract period | 31 Jan 2027 - 30 Jan 2042 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | Not specified |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Planned |
| Lots status | Planned |
| Awards status | Not specified |
| Contracts status | Not specified |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | CAMBRIDGE CITY COUNCIL |
| Additional buyers | AMBERSIDE ADVISORS LTD; BURO HAPPOLD LIMITED; SHARPE PRITCHARD LLP |
| Locality | CAMBRIDGE |
| Post town | Cambridge |
| Postcode | CB2 1BY |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLK South West (England) |
| ITL 2 | TLK5 West of England |
| ITL 3 | TLK52 Bath & North East Somerset and South Gloucestershire |
| Local authority | Bath and North East Somerset |
| Electoral ward | Oldfield Park |
| Westminster constituency | Bath |
| Delivery location | TLH12 Cambridgeshire CC |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 45 - Construction work
- 71 - Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services

### Codes

- 45211360 - Urban development construction work
- 45232140 - District-heating mains construction work
- 45232141 - Heating works
- 71314000 - Energy and related services

## Release History

- 17 Feb 2026 at 17:45 - Planning - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/014537-2026
- 17 Feb 2026 at 17:26 - Planning - UK3 - Planned Procurement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/014531-2026

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/014537-2026
  17th February 2026 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/014531-2026
  17th February 2026 - Planned procurement notice on Find a Tender

## Notice URLs

- http://amberside.uk
- http://www.sharpepritchard.co.uk
- https://www.burohappold.com
- https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents

## Provenance

This Markdown file is an alternate public rendering of the D3 Tenders contract record. The canonical page is https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-06568b. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06568b.json.