---
title: "North Lanarkshire Council - New Build Housing Pathfinder (2026 / 27)"
ocid: "ocds-r6ebe6-0000844102"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-r6ebe6-0000844102"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000844102.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000844102.json"
source: "Public Contracts Scotland"
current_stage: "Planning"
buyer: "North Lanarkshire Council"
published: "2026-09-28"
---

# North Lanarkshire Council - New Build Housing Pathfinder (2026 / 27)

Buyer: North Lanarkshire Council  
Current stage: Planning  
OCID: ocds-r6ebe6-0000844102

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## Summary

North Lanarkshire Council plans to buy newly built homes for social and affordable housing through a development-pathfinder approach. It is seeking proposals from private developers for completed homes on private-sector sites, particularly in areas with higher housing demand or significant replacement programmes. The council may use bulk purchases to add affordable homes and support delivery of its wider new-build programme. Proposed sites should be in North Lanarkshire and suitable for housing under the current or emerging Local Development Plan. The homes must be in locations and of types that meet the council’s housing needs. This is a potential purchase of homes rather than a conventional contract for construction services: developers bring forward sites and proposals, and the council considers them case by case.

The process is at the planning and market-engagement stage; there is no invitation to tender. The council expects proposals by 31 March 2027 and anticipates a further notice on 1 September 2027. It plans to assess proposals for cost, quality, locality and housing type, with further negotiation and a site-by-site agreement on a value-for-money price. The council seeks bulk-purchase discounts. Payment arrangements would also be agreed for each site, with turnkey purchases preferred or staged payments considered. The council is not obliged to buy homes or accept proposals. Any agreement would include a longstop allowing it to withdraw if development is not delivered within required timescales. The council says this requirement is outside the scope of the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015.

This approach is suited to private developers able to bring forward housing sites and offer completed new homes for acquisition, including in areas where North Lanarkshire has higher demand or is replacing existing housing. A company must own the proposed site or hold an option over it, and the site must be designated as suitable for housing in the current or emerging Local Development Plan. Proposals need to deliver homes that meet the council’s accessibility and sustainability requirements for new social housing, including Housing for Varying Needs and Silver Aspects 1 and 2. New social homes must have automatic fire suppression. For affordable homes where the Building Warrant was submitted after 1 December 2023, heating must use a non-gas source. Wheelchair-standard homes are welcomed where feasible. Developers should be prepared to demonstrate value for money and negotiate bulk-purchase terms.

## 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 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 Council's 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. 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 Affordable Housing Policy and Pathfinder turnkey approaches with agreements in place for a further 150 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=SEP565369 |
| Notice type | PCS Notice - Website 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 | 28 Sep 2026 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | 1 Sep 2027 |
| 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 |
| Postcode area | 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

- 28 Sep 2026 at 01:00 - Planning - PCS Notice - Website Prior Information Notice - https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=SEP565369

## Documents

- https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=SEP565369
  North Lanarkshire Council - New Build Housing Pathfinder (2026 / 27) - 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://
- https://api.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/v1/Notice?id=ocds-r6ebe6-0000844102
- https://www.northlanarkshire.gov.uk
- https://www.northlanarkshire.gov.uk/planning-and-building/development-plans
- https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/Search/Search_Switch.aspx?ID=844102

## 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-r6ebe6-0000844102. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000844102.json.