Two Remaining Contenders for Hitchin Churchgate Area Regeneration Announced
| Published: 19th November 2008 13:31 |
North Hertfordshire District Council (NHDC) announced on Monday 17 November that, following submission of Outline Solutions, two firms - Crest Nicholson Regeneration Ltd and Simons Development Ltd - have been short listed to continue in the procurement process for the multi-million pound regeneration of the Hitchin Churchgate shopping centre and surrounding area.
The Council will now continue working with the two firms, exploring the key issues for the Hitchin Churchgate regeneration, ultimately leading to the invitation to tender and the announcement of the successful development partner in August 2009.
Cllr FJ Smith, Leader of the Council said: "I am very pleased with how the process is progressing and look forward to the next stage and a successful development in the future".
Councillor Richard Thake, Portfolio Holder for Planning, said, "The Council is aware of some of the concerns expressed about public consultation and a fear that we will produce a scheme which will be a ‘done deal'. This is not the case.
"The proposal that will emerge from the competitive dialogue procurement process will be a scheme which has been guided by the Town Centre Strategy and the Planning brief for the Churchgate Centre and surrounding area. Both of these were subject to extensive public consultation. It will enable the Council to select its development partner for the area.
"At the end of the process, the winning bidder will have produced a schematic development proposal at the tender stage. This can then be consulted on widely and evolved further following this consultation, before submission of a formal planning application. The precise timing of this consultation will depend on the timescales proposed by the bidders but it is likely to start in 2010."
Two bidders short-listed after the Pre-Qualification stage are not proceeding in the process. Whilst Kier Property remain very much interested in the Hitchin Churchgate development opportunity they were not in a position to submit a proposal at this time. They are therefore not proceeding to the next stage of the process.
Whilst it recognises the potential for the site, Thornfield Properties has chosen not to advance to next stage of the competition for Hitchin Churchgate. It felt its own proposals would be unable to meet the Council's aspirations for proposals from developers as set out in its tender particulars
For more information on the procurement process that the Council is following please see the information note ‘Churchgate Centre and Surrounding Area Procurement Process' that was presented to the Hitchin Area Committee yesterday (18 November 2008).
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