Falmouth University (the “University”) has identified a need for additional student residential accommodation and has obtained outline planning consent for up to 1,049 bedspaces to be developed on the south west of the University’s Penryn Campus.

To support this procurement, the University has commissioned design work for the scheme to RIBA stage 2 and which will be made available to the short-listed bidders prior to the commencement of the dialogue stage.

This procurement brings to the market the opportunity to take forward the delivery of the accommodation on the basis of a design, build, finance and operate model.

The delivery of the bedspaces will be on a phased basis with a minimum of 400 bedspaces, up to a maximum of 500, to be delivered in phase 1 in readiness for occupation at the commencement of the 2018/19 academic year.

As detailed in the procurement documentation, initially, the successful bidder will deliver design work up to RIBA stage 3 in respect of phases 1 and 2, thereafter the successful bidder will deliver the design work necessary to take forward and deliver phase 1.

The University will have the option, within the resultant contract, to commission the successful bidder to deliver phase 2 which would necessitate the provision of any additional design work required to obtain planning consent and would result in delivery of an additional number of bedpsaces.

The maximum total number of bedspaces which could be delivered through both phases 1 and 2 is 1100 bedspaces (albeit a variation to the existing outline planning consent would be required), however, the University expects that delivery of phase 1 and phase 2 would result in the delivery of at least 1000 bedspaces.

It is envisaged that phase 2 would be commissioned to enable occupation of the bedspaces in readiness for occupation at the commencement of the 2020/21 academic year.

Ongoing operation of the accommodation will include the successful bidder delivering hard and soft FM services.

As further detailed in the procurement documentation, the bidders may wish to utilise FX Plus (a joint venture owned by the University and the University of Exeter) to deliver some or all of the soft FM services.

The duration of the contract is to be for a minimum of 40 years up to a potential maximum of 50 years (from practical completion of the phase 1 bedspaces), however, the University recognises that some funding solutions may require a land interest in excess of the operational period.

The University could agree a longer term for the land interest subject to there being appropriate provisions for the reversion of the land to the University at the expiry of the operational period of the resultant contract i.e. the land and accommodation will revert to the University at the end of the contractual period.