AwardedAwarded 13 August 2026
Lexden Gardens (former Essex County Hospital) Phase 3 Development
Essex County Council · Local authority
In brief
Essex County Council awarded construction work to Gipping Construction Ltd on 13 August 2026.
The notice gives a value of £14,000,000 including VAT.
The contract runs for 19 months, starting 2 March 2026.
Built from the notice's own fields. Always check the official notice before you bid.
What the notice says
Essex County Council is procuring on behalf of Essex Housing LLP, for a Principal Contractor to deliver Phase 3 Construction works at Lexden Gardens Housing Development site, through an Open Tender Sourcing Procedure. The resulting contract will sit between Essex Housing LLP and the successful Bidder. The proposed works are the refurbishment, alteration, and extension works to three blocks at the former Essex County Hospital site (Lexden Road, Colchester, Essex, CO3 3NB), to provide 8nr new homes (6nr flats and 2nr houses), and the construction of 21nr new build townhouses, including associated external works, drainage, and services. External façade works to the nurses block on the site…Read the full description
Essex County Council is procuring on behalf of Essex Housing LLP, for a Principal Contractor to deliver Phase 3 Construction works at Lexden Gardens Housing Development site, through an Open Tender Sourcing Procedure. The resulting contract will sit between Essex Housing LLP and the successful Bidder.
The proposed works are the refurbishment, alteration, and extension works to three blocks at the former Essex County Hospital site (Lexden Road, Colchester, Essex, CO3 3NB), to provide 8nr new homes (6nr flats and 2nr houses), and the construction of 21nr new build townhouses, including associated external works, drainage, and services. External façade works to the nurses block on the site are also included in this construction project.
Potter Raper Ltd are Essex Housing's nominated Employer's Agent and Principal Designer. The successful bidder will be expected to work alongside Essex Housing, Essex County Council and Potter Raper, in the successful delivery of this project.
Section 73 planning application approval is pending. The information in this notice is published with the following assumptions and will be updated when the contract is signed:
1. Anticipated date of contract signature: today's date for notice publication purposes only; will require update pending receipt of Section 73 planning application approval.
2. Contract start date: estimated date; may require update pending receipt of Section 73 planning application approval.
3. Contract end date: estimated date; assumes an 18-month contract period (to practical completion), and a further 24-month defects period. May require update pending receipt of Section 73 planning application approval.
4. Contract value: now includes a 3% uplift due to inflation pressures in market (agreed in May 2026)
The notice will be updated with a final version of information when the contract is signed and appended.
Who won
| Winner | Value | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Gipping Construction Ltd (SME) 5 bids received | £12,205,706 | Awarded 27 February 2026 1 October 2026 to 31 March 2030 |
Values as the award notice gives them, excluding VAT where stated.
Timeline
- Tender notice · UK4, notice 060921-2025
- Contract award notice · UK6, notice 018393-2026
- Contract details notice · UK7, notice 077020-2026
About the buyer
Essex County CouncilLast 12 months
Procurements
136Awards
78Suppliers it has used most for construction
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- Colchester Archaeological Trust Limited1 contract
- Gipping Construction Ltd1 contract
- KJR Contracts Limited1 contract
- Lot 2 - Believ Limited1 contract
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From notice 060921-2025 on Find a Tender, first published 30 September 2025, last updated 13 August 2026. We last checked for changes on 28 September 2026.