DESIGN AND BUILD CONTRACTOR FOR DELIVERY OF HOUSES AND APARTMENTS IN UPPER ACRE PARCEL

Eastleigh Borough Council (the Authority) is delivering an ambitious housing development to meet the needs of a growing population and lead the way for the Borough and its communities. In 2018, the Authority acquired 310 acres of land in Horton Heath and committed itself to provide new homes, services, infrastructure and businesses, that project is known as One Horton Heath (OHH). OHH is a landmark mixed-use development, located adjacent to the village of Horton Heath to the east of Eastleigh, Hampshire. A dedicated project delivery team has been established to oversee the planning and delivery of each parcel of the development. OHH is intended to be not only a commercially responsible project, but also one that recognises value extends beyond financial return.

An Outline Planning Application for OHH was approved on the 27/10/2025 under the application number O/20/89498. The permission comprises severable and separate phases of development consisting of up to 2,500 residential units in total (across The Lower Acre, Quobleigh Breach, The Upper Acre, Round Copse, The Holme, The Homestal, Chalcroft Farm and The Folds phases and partially within Chalcroft Outfarm Works phase), a local centre, non-residential floorspace, a primary school, public open space (including formal sports facilities and informal provisions), allotments, ecological, landscape and sustainable drainage works and key infrastructure and utilities provision including new roads, footpaths, bridleways and cycle paths. The Authority made a commitment to the delivery of critical infrastructure early in the overall process and ahead of housing wherever possible which means that much of the major infrastructure associated with housing or non-residential development will have been installed or may be under construction alongside the works to be procured.

This tender notice relates to the delivery of a phase of the development known as Upper Acre, the second residential parcel for delivery. It is intended to deliver 424 new mixed tenure homes and the current programme anticipates a start on site in March 2027, first plot completion in September 2027 and final completion in May 2030, delivering all plots together with the associated infrastructure, soft and hard landscaping and open spaces. A reserved matters application was submitted on 03 December 2025, validated on 09 December 2025 and granted on 19 March 2026 under reference (RM/25/100575) and Upper Acre is therefore covered by an approved reserved matters consent.

The Authority is seeking to appoint a design and build contractor to undertake the works required at Upper Acre, pursuant to a JCT Design and Build Contract 2024. Further details in relation to Upper Acre and the works required are provided in the Project Brief, a draft of which is provided as part of the associated tender documents for this procurement.

This procurement process is following a competitive flexible procedure under the Procurement Act 2023 and comprises:

• a conditions of participation stage requiring suppliers to complete a Procurement Specific Questionnaire (PSQ) and enabling the Authority to identify a shortlist of suppliers to be invited to a tender stage. The PSQ is to be returned by 6th August 2026, with clarification to the PSQ by 27th July 2026;
• shortlisted suppliers of the PSQ will be invited to bid for the main tender; and
• this tender is intended to be a single stage submission followed by an interview, with the outcome of the submission determining the successful bidder.

The Authority reserves the right to include further stages including a best and final offer stage.