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Cambridge seeks contractor for £55m city centre redevelopment

Cambridge

Cmglee_Cambridge_Guildhall_dinner-1.jpg

Cambridge Guildhall | Credit: Cmglee, Wikimedia (image cropped)

Cambridge Council is looking for a contractor to work on the £55m redevelopment of the Civic Quarter in its city centre.

The local authority is planning a refurbishment of its main civic and office space, the Grade II-listed Guildhall and improvements to the Grade II-listed Corn Exchange building as well as Market Square and its surrounding public realm.

It is looking to procure on a two-stage design and build basis.

According to a contract notice, the projects are currently at the start of RIBA stage 3 design.

The successful contractor would be expected to work with the council and its design team through to a planning submission via a pre-contract services agreement before entering into a build contract once planning permission and listed building consent are granted.

A report on the project, approved by the council in November, notes that it has been allocated a £55m capital budget.

It says the local authority would like to make around £76m-worth of improvements but its constrained finances mean the Corn Exchange and Market Square will be fully redeveloped in two phases, with the first phases only worth a combined £7.5m.

The £41m refurbishment of the Guildhall will see works including an extension of the fourth-floor roof area to create a pavilion, extensive use of solar panels and major internal retrofitting to deliver net-zero enhancements, and commercial office space installed.

The Museum of Cambridge could potentially relocate to the building, though the move depends on attracting external funding.

A first phase of works on the Corn Exchange would see its roof replaced as well as insulation and solar panels installed to enhance its net-zero credentials.

Initial works on the Market Square would focus on resurfacing the area.

The local authority said contractors interested in the job should email or message it through the ProActis procurement system.

It plans to hold a supplier event in mid-January, prior to the tender launch for the project.

Image of Cambridge Guildhall (cropped): Cmglee, Wikimedia

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Ian Weinfass

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