Decision details

To consider Award of contract for the provision of three additional properties.

Exempt report of the Corporate Director (Housing and Communities) on the award of contract for the provision of three additional properties.

(1)       The Decision Taken

RESOLVED:

(unanimous)

(1)  The Affordable Housing Procurement Board unanimously agreed in October 2020 to recommend to Cabinet that, due to the relatively small size of the project and the time and cost involved in a traditional procurement process, to utilise an existing procurement framework to help reduce upfront costs and minimise risk to the Council.  The Procurement Hub recommended that Wilmott Dixon Limited (Wilmott Dixon), be the designated contractor.

(2)   Subject to planning approval, the development of three additional one bedroom properties is progressed at Inspira House via Wilmott Dixon.

(3)  That once a detailed design had been agreed and planning consent achieved, to award the construction contract to Wilmott Dixon through the Procurement Hub.

(4)  That delegated authority was given to the Director (Housing and Communities) in consultation with the Section 151 Officer and the Executive Members (Housing and Communities and Resources) to pay above the maximum value if exceptional circumstances warrant this.

(2)        Reasons for the Decision

Inspira House was purchased by the Council in February 2019. It consisted of 54 studio and one-bedroom homes.  It was currently being used as temporary accommodation.

Following discussions with the planning team about the potential to create additional properties on the site, it had been agreed to progress with a proposal to provide three additional one-bedroom properties on the ground floor.

Due to the relatively small size of the project and the time and cost involved in a traditional procurement process, the Affordable Housing Programme Procurement Board unanimously agreed to utilise an existing procurement framework to help reduce upfront costs and minimise risk to the Council.