"The Council will now work with gbpartnerships to confirm the proposals and finalise a contract to deliver the scheme, which will be subject to a DECISION of Full Council IN THE SUMMER.

The Council can THEN share information about the NEXT steps, as part of a wide-ranging public engagement process during which everyone will be informed and have the opportunity to contribute."

Rochford District Council appoints preferred bidder for innovative regeneration programme: The Council can now announce the appointment of gbpartnerships as its preferred bidder, in the next stage of its regeneration programme to boost community facilities while reducing future costs. gbpartnerships are supported on this project by a team of regionally based delivery partners, including Kier Construction and Purcell architects who are both based in Essex. gbpartnership’s proposals to deliver the Council’s vision for the programme include: the Freight House being refurbished into a flexible space to be used both as a chamber for Council meetings, and as an enhanced hireable community space. The appointment of a preferred bidder is the latest step in a procurement process to implement the Asset Strategy that the Council developed 2 years ago. The Council is fully aware that in the current extraordinary circumstances it has a responsibility to look extra hard at any major investment and ensure not only that it achieves value for money but is also deliverable. As part of its strategy, therefore, the Council is continually reviewing all the programme risks and assumptions.