WO2136 - Melksham Strategic Depot

Wiltshire Council is progressing the development of a new Strategic Central Depot at Bowerhill, Melksham, forming part of a wider programme to rationalise and modernise the Council’s operational estate. The depot will consolidate multiple existing facilities and services, including Highways, Waste, Streetscene and Fleet operations, into a single multi-functional site

The development is intending to be delivered on a live operational site, with existing Highways and Household Waste Recycling Centre functions to remain active throughout the design and construction phases. These operations include 24/7 highways response capability and daily public access to the HWRC, requiring careful planning, segregation and continuity of service at all times.

The scheme is comprised of a complex mix of facilities, including operational yards, extensive vehicle stabling, maintenance workshops (supporting HGV and LGV fleets), office and welfare accommodation, HWRC infrastructure, fuelling and washdown facilities, and significant material storage areas. The site must support a wide range of vehicle types (up to 32t) and high operational areas, including public interface areas and future adaptability for fleet electrification.

Several key constraints will influence design and delivery, including:

• Live operational environment and phasing requirements
• Site covenants restricting development in parts of the former golf course
• Ground, ecological and drainage considerations, including biodiversity net gain
• Identified radiological risk requiring further investigation and specialist input prior to intrusive works
• Complex access arrangements and the need to segregate public, contractor and operational movements

The development is targeting BREEAM ‘Excellent’ and aligns with Wiltshire Council’s net zero ambitions, requiring a fabric-first approach, low-carbon energy strategies (including air source heat pumps and photovoltaics), and infrastructure that supports future operational flexibility and resilience.

Procurement options under consideration include both single-contractor and dual-contractor approaches (separating civils and building works), under standard forms of contract such as NEC, ICC and JCT.

Wiltshire Council intends to hold a Soft Market Testing (SMT) engagement exercise webinar at 13:30 on the 23rd April 2026 on Microsoft Teams.

This exercise is intended to inform the Council’s approach and does not constitute a call for competition. A formal procurement process will follow in due course.

Any suppliers interested in attending should express an interest via email to [email protected] and they will receive further information regarding the event details.

Should you be interested in attending the event please express your interest by emailing names, roles, and contact details to the above-mentioned e-mail address by no later than 12:00 22nd April 2026 .

Yours Faithfully

Wiltshire Council