Decision

RESOLVED that:

A     The council enter into contract with Thomas Sinden Construction Ltd, for a value of £467,940.63 for the enabling works at Market House.

B     The council approve the inclusion of a client contingency allowance of up to £50,000 to manage unquantified risks and potential additional works associated with the enabling package, allowing a final contract value with Thomas Sinden Construction Ltd up to a maximum of £517,940.63.

Reasons for the decision

To support the delivery of Building Harlow’s Future mission to ‘rebuild our town’ and the specific outcome to “drive forward and complete major regeneration schemes already transforming Harlow.”

To ensure the council progresses enabling works required to bring forward the regeneration of Market House and to support occupancy, noting that a commercial tenant has already been identified, with heads of terms agreed.

Alternative options considered

Not proceeding with the enabling works at this stage – rejected as this would delay the regeneration of Market House and impact delivery of the wider Market Square programme and restrict delivery of Building Harlow’s Future mission to ‘rebuild our town’.

Undertaking a full competitive procurement exercise – rejected due to programme impacts and the compliant tender received via the framework.