Nottingham City Council is set to begin the procurement of a contractor to design and build a replacement railway gantry near Nottingham Station, as part of plans linked to a potential housing development.
A report due to be considered by the council’s Commissioning and Procurement Executive Committee on 14 April seeks approval to appoint a contractor through an open market competition, alongside securing specialist technical support and delegating authority to senior officers to enter into the necessary contracts.
The existing gantry, located south of Station Street, carries infrastructure linked to the council’s district heating network, which supplies heat and hot water to around 5,000 households and electricity to approximately 200 domestic and commercial customers. The system is fed by a high-pressure steam supply from the Eastcroft Incinerator, with pipework crossing the canal, passing under London Road and spanning the railway via the gantry.
The council has been asked by the landowner to relocate the structure to enable the potential development of a new housing scheme on the site. As a result, a replacement gantry will need to be designed and constructed to maintain the integrity of the heating network.
The project is described as complex due to its interaction with both an operational railway and critical energy infrastructure. The council is proposing to procure a single design and build contractor, rather than separate design and construction teams, to reduce risk and improve cost certainty by placing responsibility for both elements with one provider.
Under the proposed approach, the contractor would develop a detailed design to Royal Institute of British Architects Stage Four before construction begins. The council would retain the option to pause or exit the contract after this stage, allowing flexibility should further considerations arise during the design process.
Additional specialist services, such as cost consultancy and contract supervision, are expected to be procured through existing frameworks to ensure continuity and value for money, particularly where suppliers have already been involved in earlier design stages.
Alternative options were considered but rejected. These included not proceeding with the relocation, which would likely result in temporary works and increased long-term costs; constructing a tunnel beneath the railway, which was discounted on engineering grounds due to the nature of the high-pressure steam pipes; and exploring other overground routes, which were found to present land and cost challenges.
The report notes that failure to proceed could increase risks to the district heating network, including the need for multiple connections and potential disruption to supply. Contingency arrangements are in place within the system, but the council highlights the importance of maintaining a stable and reliable connection between the incinerator and the heat station.
Some financial and legal details relating to the project are contained within an exempt appendix, due to their commercial sensitivity and potential impact on negotiations.
If approved, the procurement process will begin with the aim of appointing a contractor capable of delivering the project safely and in compliance with the council’s contractual and operational requirements, including approvals from Network Rail.
The proposals will be considered by councillors at the April meeting.
