--- title: "North Lanarkshire Council - New Build Housing Pathfinder (2025 / 26)" ocid: "ocds-r6ebe6-0000802018" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-r6ebe6-0000802018" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000802018.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000802018.json" source: "Public Contracts Scotland" current_stage: "Planning" buyer: "NORTH LANARKSHIRE COUNCIL" published: "2025-06-18" --- # North Lanarkshire Council - New Build Housing Pathfinder (2025 / 26) Buyer: NORTH LANARKSHIRE COUNCIL Current stage: Planning OCID: ocds-r6ebe6-0000802018 [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-r6ebe6-0000802018) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000802018.json) ## Summary The North Lanarkshire Council is in the planning stage of a public procurement process for their New Build Housing Pathfinder project, which is set to expand during the 2025/26 period. The project falls within the Housing and Community Amenities category and is located in North Lanarkshire, Scotland (region UKM84). The Council is adopting an innovative "development pathfinder" approach aimed at acquiring newly constructed affordable homes for social housing, by directly engaging with private developers. Key dates include a proposal submission deadline by 31st March 2026, as detailed in this Prior Information Notice. The procurement process aims to foster collaboration without formal tender documentation, allowing for more dynamic engagement with developers. This tender presents significant opportunities for businesses in the construction and real estate sectors, particularly those with interests or capacities in housing development and alternative tenure models. Developers with completed or near-completed housing sites that meet specified standards and are located in designated areas might find this a lucrative opportunity. The Council's approach could benefit private developers by offering a guaranteed buyer for homes, de-risking investments, and securing supply chains. Additionally, the opportunity aligns with business growth prospects as it proposes to stimulate private sector involvement, potentially attracting new jobs and residents to the area. Businesses specialising in accessible, sustainable, and non-gas central heating housing systems, in line with updated standards, would be well-suited to compete in this procurement process. ## Notice North Lanarkshire Council (the Council) are undertaking an innovative development pathfinder' approach for the purchase of newly built affordable homes for social housing in North Lanarkshire ### Lot Information Lot 1 North Lanarkshire Council (the Council) are seeking to continue their innovative 'development pathfinder' approach for the purchase of newly built new affordable homes for social / affordable housing in North Lanarkshire. The scale of the ambitious new build programme presents a number of delivery challenges, not least in procuring enough homes that meet the required standard and which can be delivered in a cost-effective and timely way. Therefore it is proposed to expand the use of 'off the shelf' acquisitions of completed homes from private developers. The 'development pathfinder' approach whereby the Council proactively engages with developers about bringing forward private sector housing sites, on which the Council may be able to purchase properties. This approach may bring forward additional affordable homes and reduce both costs and risks associated with the Councils new build programme. It may also be attractive to developers as it could de-risk their investments (by providing a guaranteed buyer for at least some of the homes on a site) and secure their supply chains. It may also enable the development of alternative tenures, including mid-market rent and shared equity. The approach could therefore help stimulate private sector delivery, attracting new jobs and residents into North Lanarkshire The Council already acquires completed homes from developers on private sector sites as part of developers' affordable housing policy obligations in the Cumbernauld housing market area and in Ravenscraig, Motherwell. At time of publication of this Prior Information Notice, over 300 homes have been purchased through AHP and Pathfinder turnkey approaches with agreements in place for a further 102 homes to be purchased in future. Under the development pathfinder approach, the Council would not undertake a formal procurement procedure by issuing tender documentation specifying its requirements for a particular site etc. Instead, the Council would engage directly with the market, providing outline guidance on its ambitions on the location, site mix etc. for acquisition of units in particular geographical areas. The Council would, in asking developers to come forward with proposed sites, be under no obligation to purchase homes. The Council would, on a case by case basis, have to satisfy itself that it is acting within its powers, reflecting on its obligations under procurement legislation. Any proposals received would be evaluated to ensure value for money can be demonstrated. This approach would by necessity result in less control being exercised by the Council in respect of the design of homes that may be built and the pace of development, relative to those projects where the Council acts as employer in a traditional works contract. Any agreements made with developers will be subject to a 'longstop' set out in missives, enabling the Council to break the agreement should the development not be delivered within the required timescales. To ensure that the Council can effectively engage with interested parties and efficiently consider and respond to any enquiries and proposals made, the Council will employ this approach across North Lanarkshire where there is higher demand and / or a significant re-provisioning programme. Further information regarding engagement is stated within section VI.3) Additional information of this notice. ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Public Contracts Scotland | | Latest notice | https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=JUN532820 | | Notice type | OJEU - F1 - Prior Information 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 | 18 Jun 2025 | | Submission deadline | Not specified | | Future notice date | 31 Mar 2026 | | Award date | Not specified | | Contract period | Not specified | | 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 | NORTH LANARKSHIRE COUNCIL | | Locality | MOTHERWELL | | Post town | Motherwell | | Postcode | ML1 1AB | | Country | Scotland | | ITL 1 | TLM Scotland | | ITL 2 | TLM3 West Central Scotland | | ITL 3 | TLM34 North Lanarkshire | | Local authority | North Lanarkshire | | Electoral ward | Motherwell South East and Ravenscraig | | Westminster constituency | Motherwell, Wishaw and Carluke | | Delivery location | TLM84 North Lanarkshire | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 45 - Construction work - 70 - Real estate services ### Codes - 45211000 - Construction work for multi-dwelling buildings and individual houses - 45211100 - Construction work for houses - 45211300 - Houses construction work - 70111000 - Development of residential real estate - 70121000 - Building sale or purchase services - 70123100 - Sale of residential real estate ## Release History - 18 Jun 2025 at 00:00 - Planning - OJEU - F1 - Prior Information Notice - https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=JUN532820 ## Documents - https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=JUN532820 North Lanarkshire Council - New Build Housing Pathfinder (2025 / 26) - North Lanarkshire Council (the Council) are undertaking an innovative development pathfinder' approach for the purchase of newly built affordable homes for social housing in North Lanarkshire ## Notice URLs - http:// - http://www.northlanarkshire.gov.uk - http://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/Search/Search_Switch.aspx?ID=802018 - https://api.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/v1/Notice?id=ocds-r6ebe6-0000802018 - https://www.northlanarkshire.gov.uk/planning-and-building/development-plans ## 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-r6ebe6-0000802018. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000802018.json.