Refurbishment of Ysgol Calon Cymru - Builth Wells Campus, Powys, Mid Wales

Procurement description

Powys County Council intends to procure the construction works required to create a new Welsh-medium all-age school, Ysgol Bro Epynt, providing accommodation for 210 pupils together with Early Years and Additional Learning Needs (ALN) facilities. The school will be established within the existing occupied Ysgol Calon Cymru, Builth Campus, College Road, Builth Wells, Powys, LD2 3BW.

The proposed works comprise alteration and refurbishment of areas within three existing buildings, minor demolition works, construction of two small extensions, together with associated external works and landscaping. The site is located within a Conservation Area, although the existing buildings are not listed.

The design is being developed by the Council to RIBA Work Stage 4 and it is currently proposed that the works will be procured on a traditional basis using the JCT Intermediate Building Contract with Contractor's Design 2024.

Contractor-designed elements are anticipated to include trussed roof members, two platform lifts, a solar photovoltaic system and elements of the mechanical and electrical installations, including interfaces with existing systems while the remaining school buildings continue to operate.

The Council's key programme requirement is for Ysgol Bro Epynt to be operational from 1 September 2028. The Early Years and ALN facilities may be capable of completion at a later date, subject to the contractor's proposed programme. The Council is therefore considering the use of sectional completion provisions to secure completion of the areas necessary for the school to open by September 2028, with the remaining works completed by no later than 31 March 2029.

Conservation Area Planning Consent is required in relation to the demolition and extension works to one of the buildings, with an application expected to be submitted by the Council in January 2027. The remaining works do not require planning consent.

The scheme has been designed to achieve an energy efficiency performance of 15% above current Building Regulations requirements. A Building Regulations application is expected to be submitted by the Council in January 2027. BREEAM certification and a Net Zero Carbon in Operation assessment are not required.

Main category

Works

Delivery regions

• UKL24 - Powys

Total value (estimated)

7500000.00 GBP Excluding VAT

9000000.00 GBP Including VAT

Contract dates (estimated)

01 September 2027, 00:00AM to 01 March 2029, 23:59PM

Powys County Council

Is the total value above threshold?

Above threshold

CPV classifications

• 45000000 - Construction work

Delivery regions

• UKL24 - Powys

Sustainability

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SME)

Contract start date (estimated)

01 September 2027, 00:00AM

Contract end date (estimated)

01 March 2029, 23:59PM

Engagement process description

Powys County Council is undertaking preliminary market engagement in advance of commencing the formal competitive procurement process for the Ysgol Bro Epynt construction works.

The purpose of this engagement is to assist the Council in testing its proposed procurement and delivery approach with contractors experienced in leading and delivering comparable construction projects, and to identify any matters that should reasonably be taken into account when finalising the procurement.

In particular, the Council would welcome contractors' views on:

1. market interest in the project and the proposed procurement and contracting approach;

2. programme and deliverability, including the proposed construction period and the requirement for Ysgol Bro Epynt to be operational from 1 September 2028;

3. delivery within an occupied school environment, including any significant sequencing, interface or operational constraints that the Council should consider when preparing the procurement;

4. any other significant commercial, technical or programme risks that contractors consider the Council should take into account when developing the procurement documentation.

This engagement is intended to inform the Council's preparation of the subsequent procurement. Contractors are not being asked at this stage to submit tenders, detailed technical solutions or commercial proposals. Requirements, evaluation criteria and the basis on which tenders will be assessed will be set out as part of the formal procurement process.

Contractors wishing to participate are invited to contact the Council at the email address by 5pm on Friday 27 November 2026.

Subject to the number of responses received and available capacity, the Council intends to hold individual Microsoft Teams meetings of up to one hour and/or individual site visits of up to two hours. Dates and times will be arranged directly with participating contractors.

Participation in this preliminary market engagement is voluntary. Participation, or non-participation, will not confer any advantage or disadvantage on a contractor in any subsequent procurement process.

Due date

27 November 2026, 23:59PM

Has the engagement period already ended?

No

Publication date of tender notice (estimated)

15 January 2027