Somers Orchard Affordable Homes Housing Development - Phase 1 - Soft Market Testing

Portsmouth City Council (the 'Council') is seeking to engage in open pre-procurement soft market testing discussions with suitably qualified and experienced contractors in respect of a potential forthcoming contracting opportunity concerning the Somers Orchard Affordable Homes Housing Development Phase 1 - Block C & associated infrastructure, enabling works and public realm / landscaping. Following the demolition of the Horatia and Leamington tower blocks, the Council commissioned Karakusavic Carson Architects to prepare a development masterplan for the sites and the immediate wider area. See link below to view further details on the approved plan for new housing on the Horatia and Leamington sites: https://www.portsmouth.gov.uk/plan-for-new-housing-on-horatia-and-leamington-sites-approved/ The development masterplan proposes several sites identified as Blocks A, B, C & D in addition to the vacant demolition sites for Horatia and Leamington. These include the car park at Melbourne Place, the Gibson Centre and a number of associated areas of landscaping and highways adjacent to and around the existing and to be retained 'Birmingham Blocks'. It is proposed to bring forward the masterplan in phases. The primary goal and focus of this exercise is to identify a procurement strategy to deliver Phase 1 (Block C), however should it be deemed financially beneficial and viability is favourable, the focus may be extended to include Phase 2 (Block A) at the same time or as a future option. The Council envisages securing the contractor in line with the following indicative programme, however it should be noted that the dates below are purely indicative and may be subject to future change. Soft Market Testing Q1 2025 Procurement process Q4 2025 - Q1 2026 Commence on site Q4 2026 - Q1 2027 Complete Q4 2028 onwards (Dates in calendar years) SOFT MARKET TESTING Places will be limited to suitably qualified and experienced contractors on a first come first served basis, refer to section II.2.4 for details including for how to formally express interest in participating in the Soft Market Testing process. The In-tend system can be accessed free of charge via the following web link: https://intendhost.co.uk/portsmouthcc/aspx/home