Decision details

Background / Decision Summary:

Willow House is a council-owned former care home and brownfield site identified for redevelopment within the wider housing delivery programme. Executive approval on 7 October 2025 authorised the Director of Housing and Communities (in consultation with Finance and Governance) to take such steps as are necessary to procure, award and enter a contract with an enabling contractor to undertake site preparation works using Brownfield Funding received from York & North Yorkshire Combined Authority (“YNYCA”). These enabling works are essential to de-risk the site, address known constraints, and prepare it for future housing development.

Executive also noted on 14 April 2026 that a Brownfield Land Release Fund grant application to the One Public Estate (“OPE”) has been submitted to contribute to funding of the Willow House project delivery including the necessary enabling works; and pending the grant award, agreed to proceed with entering into a grant agreement to receive funding.

This decision is to proceed with a direct award via the Government Commercial Agency (“GCA”) Framework RM6088 (Construction Works and Associated Services), and enter contract for an enabling contractor, under the delegated authority given to the Director of Housing and Communities (in consultation with Finance and Governance) by Executive.

The procurement approach is compliant with Public Contracts Regulations 2015 and ensures the Council can utilise YNYCA and OPE Brownfield Housing Funding within required timescales.

Option 1 – Procure an enabling contractor via a direct award under the GCA Framework RM6088 (recommended)
A compliant procurement exercise under the above GCA Framework enables the Council to appoint a contractor to undertake remediation, clearance and enabling works. This option ensures the Council can draw down and utilise OPE and YNYCA Brownfield Funding, which is time-limited and contingent on demonstrable progress. This option also ensures that the Willow House care home is demolished as soon as possible, to prevent further security costs and vandalism.

Option 2 – Open tender for full development works (rejected)
A full open tender for development at this stage would delay enabling works and risk the OPE and YNYCA Brownfield Funding.

Option 3 – Do nothing (rejected)
Not procuring an enabling contractor would prevent the Council from accessing the OPE and YNYCA Brownfield Funding and would leave the site undeveloped, with ongoing liabilities and no progress toward future housing delivery.

Full open tender for development – this was rejected due to risk of losing the OPE and YNYCA Brownfield Funding and misalignment with programme requirements.

Delay procurement – rejected as it would breach the OPE and YNYCA Brownfield Funding deadlines and stall progress.