--- title: "C000949SNA Irish Street Development Scheme" ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-06e9b4" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-06e9b4" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06e9b4.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06e9b4.json" source: "Find A Tender Service" current_stage: "Planning" buyer: "Department for Communities" published: "2026-08-21" --- # C000949SNA Irish Street Development Scheme Buyer: Department for Communities Current stage: Planning OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-06e9b4 [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-06e9b4) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06e9b4.json) ## Summary The Department for Communities, working with Newry, Mourne and Down District Council, is seeking a development proposal for the Irish Street Development Scheme in Downpatrick town centre, adjacent to the primary retail core. The project aims to deliver a high-quality, commercially led, mixed-use scheme supporting sustainable urban regeneration. The appointed developer is expected to design, build, own and operate the redevelopment under a development agreement with the Department for Communities. The work covers site preparation, building construction, multi-dwelling buildings and houses, leisure facilities, architectural design and construction project management. The site is partly within Downpatrick Centre Conservation Area and entirely within an area of significant archaeological potential. Delivery is in Northern Ireland. This procurement is at the planning stage and is currently seeking preliminary market feedback on the proposed procurement strategy, rather than inviting tenders. The buyer expects to publish a subsequent notice on 30 September 2026. Market engagement feedback and indications of interest are requested by 17 September 2026 through the eTenders NI questionnaire. The anticipated contract period is from 1 December 2027 to 1 December 2034, with a possible extension to 1 December 2036. The estimated value is £13,235,000 excluding VAT, or £15,885,000 including VAT. There is one planned lot, identified as suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises. A development agreement under licence is expected, with the developer responsible for securing planning permission and delivering the construction works. This will suit developers able to take overall responsibility for a mixed-use regeneration project, including design, planning, finance, construction, ownership and operation. The buyer is looking for innovative, high-quality design, professional expertise and financing capability, alongside the capacity to manage delivery in compliance with the development scope, statutory regulations and other legal requirements. Competitors should be prepared to secure full planning permission and satisfy statutory bodies, while addressing the constraints of a conservation area and significant archaeological potential. Construction capability should cover site preparation, buildings, housing and leisure facilities, supported by architectural and project management expertise. The planned lot is identified as suitable for SMEs, although the developer model requires an organisation or consortium able to sustain responsibility across the project lifecycle. ## Notice The Department for Communities (DfC) in conjunction with Newry Mourne & Down District Council (NMDDC) are seeking a development proposal for this site known as "Irish Street Development Scheme". The site is located within Downpatrick Town Centre, as defined within the Ards and North Down Area Plan and sits adjacent to the Primary Retail Core. The east end of the site falls within Downpatrick Centre Conservation Area, and the complete site lies within an area of Significant Archaeological Potential. The overall objective of this Procurement is to attract high quality development proposals that meet both DfC & NMDDC joint objectives for a high quality multi use scheme that is commercially led and provides sustainable urban regeneration. The Authority recognises the contribution that Developers' can make to urban regeneration in terms of innovative high-quality design, professional expertise and financing. It is anticipated the appointed Developer will design, build, own and operate this Redevelopment Scheme. The successful developer will enter into a Development Agreement under Licence with DfC to deliver this project. This Agreement will set out the contractual framework governing the development, including obligations, conditions, and procedural requirements. The Developer will be responsible for all design work required to secure full planning permission and satisfy requirements of all other statutory bodies. The Developer will be responsible for all aspects of the construction of the works, in full compliance with the Development Scope, all relevant statutory regulations, and relevant legislation. ### Planning Information The Department for Communities (DfC) invites preliminary market feedback on the proposed procurement strategy for the appointment of a developer for this flagship regeneration project. This engagement is to inform the market of the upcoming opportunity, provide an indication of interest in the opportunity and gain feedback in relation to the opportunity and the proposed procurement procedure Please register with eTenders NI at https://etendersni.gov.uk/epps/getHomeDashboard.do and use CFT ID No 6692698 to view documents and return the questionnaire provided. ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Find A Tender Service | | Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/079966-2026 | | Notice type | UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice | | Procurement type | Standard | | Procurement category | Works | | Procurement method | Not Specified | | Procurement method details | Not specified | | Tender suitability | SME | | Awardee scale | Not specified | | All stages | Planning | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 21 Aug 2026 | | Submission deadline | Not specified | | Future notice date | 30 Sep 2026 | | Award date | Not specified | | Contract period | 1 Dec 2027 - 1 Dec 2034 | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | £13,235,000 | | Lots value | Not specified | | Awards value | Not specified | | Contracts value | Not specified | ## Status | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender status | Planning | | Lots status | Planning | | Awards status | Not specified | | Contracts status | Not specified | ## Buyer | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Main buyer | Department for Communities | | Locality | OMAGH | | Postcode area | Northern Ireland | | Postcode | BT79 7BB | | Country | Northern Ireland | | ITL 1 | TLN Northern Ireland | | ITL 2 | TLN0 Northern Ireland | | ITL 3 | TLN0G Fermanagh and Omagh | | Local authority | Fermanagh and Omagh | | Electoral ward | Strule | | Westminster constituency | West Tyrone | | Delivery location | TLN Northern Ireland | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 45 - Construction work - 71 - Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services ### Codes - 45100000 - Site preparation work - 45210000 - Building construction work - 45211000 - Construction work for multi-dwelling buildings and individual houses - 45212100 - Construction work of leisure facilities - 71220000 - Architectural design services - 71541000 - Construction project management services ## Release History - 21 Aug 2026 at 14:22 - Planning - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/079966-2026 ## Documents - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/079966-2026 21st August 2026 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender ## Notice URLs - https://etendersni.gov.uk/epps/getHomeDashboard.do - 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-06e9b4. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06e9b4.json.