Expression of Interest for Consultancy Services for Food and Horticultural Quarter in Nine Elms

Description

Wandsworth Borough Council is seeking interest from suitably qualified and experienced consultants to undertake a feasibility study in late-2022 to inform the development of a Food and Horticultural Quarter in Nine Elms. This is a unique requirement for the Council and as such it is seeking interest from providers through this Expression of Interest (EOI) process, with a view to shortlist and invite Tenders in mid-August 2022. This EOI is being issued by the Council as the first stage of a Tender process. The purpose of this EOI is to gather interest from suitably qualified providers, and to shortlist up to four consultants to invite to this tender opportunity, reserving the right to invite more or less. This EOI can be accessed via the Council's Delta eProcurement Portal using the access code 878786BS7X. You can submit your response by the closing date on the Portal. New Covent Garden Market ("NCGM" or the "Market") is the UK's largest wholesale fruit, vegetable and flower market. It is run by the Covent Garden Market Authority (CGMA), created by statute in 1961 to be an arms-length public body; a standalone, self-funded organisation. NCGM falls within Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs' (DEFRA) portfolio. The Market is being re-built in its entirety and is due to complete in 2027. Important milestones have already been achieved, including the launch of the Food Exchange as a hub for food-related enterprise and housing Mission Kitchen, a shared workspace for food businesses, which opened in 2020. The Market's transformation sits within the wider regeneration of the Vauxhall, Nine Elms and Battersea Opportunity Area, in which 20,000 new homes are being built, and 6.5m sq feet of commercial space created in London's Central Activities Zone, generating 25,000 jobs. The creation of a new town centre at Battersea Power Station, alongside increased connectivity delivered by the two new Tube stations of the Northern Line Extension signals huge change to how people will experience the local neighbourhood. The Council believe that the combination of Food and Horticulture, alongside the market garden heritage of Nine Elms, suggests potential for the area to develop into a visitor destination with global reach, as well as a centre for excellence, innovation and growth, whilst maintaining at its heart an operational wholesale market for London. There is opportunity to increase public awareness and engagement with the work of the Market, the wider food and flower production and distribution networks - their role in serving the city and as part of its culture and heritage. Given the climate emergency and impacts of recent global events on domestic supply chains, the Council believe this initiative can support a more sustainable future for people who live and work in the area. The Council is calling this a Food and Horticultural Quarter (FHQ). Please refer to the attached documents for more information.