The winner multidisciplinary team will design and deliver four blue-green infrastructure projects across the historic railway town. The project is part of a wider ambition to ensure all residents have access to a restorative green space within a 15-minute walk of their home.
The winning team will be expected to include a landscape architect or lead consultant, a quantity surveyor, planner, ecologist, hydrologist, a public art commissioning specialist and expertise in the commissioning of surveys required to develop and implement design proposals.
According to the brief: ‘The aim is to obtain a proposal through RIBA Stage 2-6 for the detailed design and specification of four blue-green infrastructure enhancement projects in areas of Didcot identified and analysed in the Green Infrastructure strategy.
‘The proposal will include preparation and, subject to council approval, submission of drawings and documents to secure planning permission and preparation of Tender documents to enable procurement of contractors, which may include art commissions, to implement the projects on the ground.’
Located 24km south of Oxford, Didcot is a historic railway town which saw its first train station open in 1839 as part of Isambard Kingdom Brunel’s Great Western Railway. Since 2015, the settlement has been designated a ‘garden town’ by the government.
Last year, South Oxfordshire District Council launched a search for a design team to regenerate a series of high street premises with new affordable homes and a community space.
The latest commission involves a series of initiative across Didcot intended to boost biodiversity, improve sightlines and signage on cycling routes and deliver new exercise and play facilities.
Bids for the contract will be evaluated 50 per cent on quality and 50 per cent on social value and 40 per cent on cost. Applicants must hold public liability insurance of Minimum £10 million, employers’ liability insurance of £10 million and professional indemnity insurance of £2 million.