Purpose

Parks Play Areas Refurbishments Phase 3, which
affects more than 2 wards
and contract value above £2.5M

Content

RESOLVED:
1. 
To approve the award of a JCT Design & Build
contract for Phase 3 of the Play Area Refurbishment Programme to
the most economically advantageous tenderer at a total fixed
contract value of £2,332,375 following a mini-competition
under the Procure Public Dynamic Purchasing System (Supporting
Construction Works - Landscaping Work Category).
2. 
To delegate authority to the Director Environment &
Climate Change in consultation with the Director of Legal to agree
and enter into the final form of contract as well as any ancillary
contract documents.
 
Reasons For Decision 
 
This report seeks approval to award a JCT
Design and Build contract for the refurbishment of three park play
areas at Clissold Park, London Fields
(North), and Millfields Park.

The decision enables delivery of Phase 3 of Hackney’s Play
Area Refurbishment Programme, which is part of the Council’s
long-term strategy to improve the quality, accessibility, and
inclusivity of its parks and play spaces. These works support the
Hackney Strategic Plan and the Parks and Green Spaces Strategy
2021–2031, which commit to creating welcoming, sustainable
spaces that promote health, wellbeing, and environmental
resilience.
 
Hackney’s parks play areas are critical
community assets that promote active lifestyles and child
development. Many of these facilities are now beyond their designed
life, offering limited play value and requiring extensive ongoing
repairs. Without intervention, there would be a continuing increase
in repair costs and reputational risks to the Council due to the
declining quality of play provision.
 
A phased investment approach has been adopted
since 2020, with 13 play areas refurbished and two new ones
constructed in Phases 1 and 2. Lessons learned from earlier phases
have directly informed Phase 3, including the need for specialist
design input, robust cost control, and early engagement with
residents and user groups. These previous phases were delivered on
time, within budget, and to high community satisfaction levels.
 
The Procure Public DPS was used to ensure a
compliant, competitive process under the Public Contract
Regulations 2015. Although only one compliant bid was received, the
procurement was openly advertised to all suppliers under the
relevant CPV categories. The single tender was rigorously assessed
against the published criteria (Quality 60%, Price 40%) and has
been benchmarked against costs from Phases 1 and 2. The assessment
confirmed that the proposed pricing is consistent with market
conditions and represents good value for money.
 
The project will deliver modern, inclusive
play environments that meet Hackney’s Play Principles and
encourage imaginative and active play through both equipment and
natural landscaping. All designs will be subject to community
engagement and independent RPii
inspection to ensure compliance with safety and inclusivity
standards.
 
The contract will be delivered on a
fixed-price basis, providing cost certainty and controlling
inflationary risk. Funding is fully secured within the
Council’s approved capital programme, and the procurement has
been assessed as Low Risk under the Council’s Procurement
Risk Assessment Tool (RAT).
 
The supplier has previously delivered the park
play area refurbishments under Phase 1 and 2 of this programme to a
high standard. Their proven experience with Hackney’s parks,
understanding of local community needs, and familiarity with the
Council’s design standards and governance processes provide
strong assurance of successful delivery for Phase 3.
 
The works will also deliver substantial social
value and sustainability benefits, directly supporting the
Council’s Sustainable Procurement and Insourcing Strategy and
Climate Action Plan. The contractor has committed to using at least
60% local labour, payment of the London Living Wage, and delivery
of apprenticeships and work placements through Hackney Works and
local colleges. A structured programme of nine community engagement
events will include public consultation sessions, school play
design workshops, volunteer planting days, and the Picker Pals
environmental education initiative, fostering long-term community
involvement and stewardship.
 
Environmentally, the contractor will achieve
over 90% recycling and reuse of materials, use FSC/PEFC-certified
timber and low-carbon concrete, and enhance biodiversity across all
three parks through native planting, wildflower seeding, and
habitat creation. These commitments will ensure the project
contributes to Hackney’s wider ambitions for a greener,
fairer, and more inclusive borough.
 
The award of this contract ensures continued
investment in high-quality, sustainable play provision,
contributing to Hackney’s wider objectives for healthy,
active, and child-friendly communities.
 
Alternative Options
Considered and Rejected
 
The following procurement and delivery options
were considered and rejected during the development of the Business
Case and are summarised below for completeness.
 

Option

Reasons for
rejection
 

Do nothing

This option would result in continued
deterioration of the existing play areas, increasing revenue costs
for maintenance and repairs and negatively affecting the play value
and safety of facilities. It would also risk reputational damage to
the Council and fail to meet community expectations or strategic
objectives under the Parks and Green Spaces Strategy.

Two stage open
procurement

This route would require additional time and
cost for separate design and construction phases, contrary to the
Council’s efficiency and value-for-money principles. A Design
& Build contract procured via an established framework/DPS
route provides a faster, compliant, and proven pathway.

Insourcing

Not viable. The Council does not have the
in-house capability or resources to deliver large-scale landscape
and play refurbishment works or provide specialist landscape
architectural design services.