--- title: "Specialist Supported Housing for People with Complex Needs (Adults and or Young People with Learning Disability / Autism)" ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-06eb59" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-06eb59" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06eb59.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06eb59.json" source: "Find A Tender Service" current_stage: "Planning" buyer: "Durham County Council" published: "2026-08-25" --- # Specialist Supported Housing for People with Complex Needs (Adults and or Young People with Learning Disability / Autism) Buyer: Durham County Council Current stage: Planning OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-06eb59 [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-06eb59) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06eb59.json) ## Summary Durham County Council is exploring specialist supported housing and related housing services in County Durham for adults and young people with complex needs. The intended provision covers people with autism, learning disabilities, mental health needs and behaviours of distress that may cause harm to themselves, other people, staff teams or their living environment. The council is considering accommodation and property requirements that promote independence and wellbeing while delivering sustainable, high-quality homes and long-term value for money. The work is classified as housing services and health and social work services. It is aimed at registered housing providers, developers and other organisations able to contribute to specialist accommodation and property solutions in the county. This procurement is at the planning stage and is not yet an invitation to tender. Durham County Council expects to use a light-touch regime for services, with one planned lot. The council is undertaking preliminary market engagement before developing a formal tender, seeking feedback on the opportunities, challenges and practical considerations of delivering the required accommodation. Interested providers are expected to respond to written questions through the Open Portal, with responses requested by 9 September 2026. The planned contract period is 1 February 2027 to 31 January 2032. The lot remains in planning, and the council has not yet set out a tender value or final award arrangements. This will suit registered housing providers, specialist housing developers and market partners with experience of designing, developing, owning or operating supported accommodation for people with complex needs. Relevant organisations should be able to address challenging behaviours, mental health needs, autism and learning disabilities through safe, person-centred environments that support independence and wellbeing. Experience of creating sustainable, high-quality accommodation and demonstrating long-term value for money will be important. Providers with knowledge of the practical implications of accommodation scale, specialist property design and local development requirements are well placed to contribute. Familiarity with CQC guidance and evidence from previous complex-needs housing schemes will help organisations prepare informed responses as the council shapes its future requirements. ## Notice Durham County Council (DCC) are looking to explore the market options for Specialist Supported Housing for People with Complex Needs (Adults and or Young People with Learning Disability / Autism) Durham County Council is seeking to engage with Registered Housing Providers, developers and other market partners, in County Durham, to inform future specialist supported housing/property requirements for people (Adults and or Young People) with complex needs, including: * Autism * Learning Disabilities * Mental Health needs * Behaviours of distress that may result in harm to themselves, others, staff teams or their living environment The Council would welcome views on the opportunities, challenges and practical considerations associated with delivering sustainable, high-quality accommodation that promotes independence, wellbeing and long-term value for money. The accommodation needs required have been informed and influenced by regional and national reports from statutory agencies including Building the Right Support (2015) and Supported housing for people with learning disabilities and autistic people in England (Housing LIN 2023). They have also been shaped by CQC guidance on accommodation scale and local learning from previous specialist developments for complex accommodation provisions. ### Planning Information This notice forms part of our preliminary market engagement, offering you the opportunity to share feedback and comments before the opportunity is released for formal tender submissions. Interested providers can access the written response questions, free of charge, by registering on the Open Portal at www.open-uk.org OPEN20261815 is the project reference number. ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Find A Tender Service | | Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/080761-2026 | | Notice type | UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice | | Procurement type | Standard | | Procurement category | Services | | Procurement method | Not Specified | | Procurement method details | Not specified | | Tender suitability | Not specified | | Awardee scale | Not specified | | All stages | Planning | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 25 Aug 2026 | | Submission deadline | Not specified | | Future notice date | 9 Sep 2026 | | Award date | Not specified | | Contract period | 1 Feb 2027 - 31 Jan 2032 | | 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 | Planning | | Lots status | Planning | | Awards status | Not specified | | Contracts status | Not specified | ## Buyer | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Main buyer | Durham County Council | | Locality | DURHAM | | Postcode area | Durham | | Postcode | DH1 5WB | | Country | England | | ITL 1 | TLC North East (England) | | ITL 2 | TLC4 Northumberland, Durham and Tyne & Wear | | ITL 3 | TLC41 Durham | | Local authority | County Durham | | Electoral ward | Framwellgate & Newton Hall | | Westminster constituency | City of Durham | | Delivery location | TLC14 Durham | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 70 - Real estate services - 85 - Health and social work services ### Codes - 70333000 - Housing services - 85000000 - Health and social work services ## Release History - 25 Aug 2026 at 11:30 - Planning - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/080761-2026 ## Documents - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/080761-2026 25th August 2026 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender ## Notice URLs - http://www.durham.gov.uk/ - 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-06eb59. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06eb59.json.