Cardiff Closed Road Circuit Delivery and Operation

Description

The Council is issuing this Preliminary Market Engagement Notice (Notice) to commence preliminary market engagement with interested potential partners in respect of a near future procurement process that it intends to conduct. The procurement process aims to appoint a Delivery Partner to deliver and operate a Closed Road Cycle Circuit Facility in the Leckwith area of Cardiff (The Scheme). The Scheme is a priority development for National Governing Bodies for Cycling, Triathlon and Athletics (Running) and has been identified as a Principal Legacy Development for the Tour de France, which comes to Wales in 2027. It is the Council’s intention to procure a Delivery Partner (who in turn may appoint a Developer and/or Operator) through an open procurement process and for the parties to enter into a Development Agreement for the construction of the project. Once constructed, a Property Lease will be entered into together with a Management Agreement outlining core expectations for the operation of the Scheme. The Scheme is anticipated to cost in the order of c£4.5m and the aspiration is for this to be funded through Legacy Funding and other associated Grants, some of which has already been secured. Other than provision of the land (via long-lease) and supporting with grant applications where appropriate, the Council will not be funding or financially supporting the delivery and operation of The Closed Road Circuit by any other means and any funding shortfall will need to be met by the Delivery Partner. The Delivery Partner will, of course, factor in the revenue generated from operating the Facility and the Council would anticipate this is factored into consideration of the upfront costs of the Scheme. The proposed site for the Circuit is in the heart of Leckwith (See Annex 1) adjacent to other sports facilities and within the parameters of the wider Leckwith Sporting Campus and as such, the Delivery Partner shall be required to establish and maintain an active and regular working relationship with neighbouring facilities, in particular those immediately adjacent to the site for access and parking. The Council and National Governing Bodies (NGBs - Cycling, Triathlon, Athletics) have progressed the Scheme design to Stage 3 and submitted a planning application. Prior to any exchange of contracts, the Council and NGBs will have progressed the design through to Stage 4. The Primary objective is to ensure that the Scheme operates as a high-quality, accessible, inclusive and financially sustainable community and sporting facility. The facility shall support: • Cycling clubs, development and training sessions. • Triathlon clubs, development and training sessions. • Running clubs, development and training sessions. • Learn-to-Ride and cycle skills and confidence programmes. • Casual and recreational participation. • Community health and wellbeing activities, particularly targeting local catchment communities. • Schools, colleges, universities, youth groups and other third sector community organisations. • Disability and inclusive sport groups. • Performance development and talent pathways. • Local, regional and national sporting events. • Coaching, workforce and volunteer development. • Skills learning and experience linked to enterprise and future employment opportunities. The Council intends to include a management agreement alongside the property lease to set out specific operational requirements that ensure the operation of the facility balances sporting development, community benefit, accessibility and commercial sustainability, whilst maximising participation and utilisation. The Lease and ancillary the Management Agreement will set out the arrangements as between the Council and Delivery Partner (whether as the Delivery Partner or via PropCo/OpCo) for the operation of the Scheme. The Council makes the following supporting information available with this Notice: Annex 1: Site Plan Annex 2: Stage 2 Design and Access Statement Annex 3: Cost Report Annex 4: Funding Report It is the intention to procure a Delivery Partner through an open procurement process and for the Delivery Partner to enter into a Development Agreement. On completion of the construction of the Scheme, a Lease will be entered into together with a Management Agreement. The Development Agreement, Property Lease and Management Agreement will set out the arrangements as between the Council and Delivery Partner to enable the Delivery Partner to build, operate and maintain the Scheme for a defined term. The Council envisages to commence a public open procurement process for the Scheme via the issue of a Tender Notice in November 2026. The intention is to conduct the procurement using an Open Procedure procurement process as provided for under the Procurement Act 2023. The procurement process will involve a single-stage process, which does not permit dialogue or negotiation. The Single Stage Tender submission will include the pre-qualification Conditions of Participation and the Submission of Full Tenders. Further details of the process will be made available when the procurement commences. To reiterate, the basis on which the Development Agreement is to be procured is that the Council will offer the land for the Scheme (and assistance with grant applications) but that the Scheme is to be funded and run by the Delivery Partner. This means it is a concession contract in that the Delivery Partner will need to consider the revenue it will generate from the operation of the facility for the term of the Management Agreement period. Following the identification of a potential site, the Council, working with sports governing bodies, has progressed a detailed feasibility study to explore and test the technical and environmental constraints, and a sporting business case to establish the overarching demand for such a facility including the principal usage strategy and programming potential. The feasibility study explored the technical constraints of the site which included engagement with statutory consultees. The outcome confirmed the site is suitable to accommodate a 1.5km national standard Closed Road Cycle Circuit The sporting case explored the demand for such a facility, engaging the national governing bodies of cycling, triathlon, running (Athletics) and community sport. The study revealed common gaps in provision and recognised the unified priority for a new facility in the city. In July 2027, Le Tour de France is coming to Wales with Stage 3 of the Grand Départ finishing in the capital city and as the largest attended sporting event in the world, presents a unique opportunity, a once in a generation chance to inspire participation and create long-term legacy. There are no urban Closed Road Cycling Circuits in South Wales. Delivery of a facility in Cardiff, in close proximity to other key infrastructure, provides an opportunity for developing sport and recreational activity and to bring regional and national events to Wales. The delivery of a new Closed Road Cycling Circuit in Cardiff is considered a key priority and could potentially be one of the biggest legacy outcomes from the Tour de France 2027. What are the Council offering? • Land on which to deliver the Scheme via a long lease (e.g. 99 years). This will have a restricted use for the delivery and operation of a 1.5km Closed Road Circuit to British Cycling Specification and associated ancillary infrastructure as identified in the Design. • Support to secure grants What are the Council’s timescale requirements? • The Council must conclude the Procurement with an outcome for a Cabinet decision no later than January 2027. • The Council and National Governing Bodies and Funding Partners are targeting the completion of the Development as a Legacy Project for the tour de France, which requires contracts to be entered by April 2027 and works to conclude end 2027/early 2028. The Council invites interested Parties in the market to provide written feedback in relation to the proposed Scheme for the Council to consider ahead of the commencement of a public procurement exercise. The Council is particularly interested in feedback from Delivery Partners and ask them to provide feedback as follows: i. Confirm if they would be interested in delivering this Scheme ii. The proposed procurement structure for Cardiff Circuit (The Scheme) and the intention to appoint a Delivery Partner for the construction, leasing and management of the Scheme iii. Noting the Council’s intention to enter a Development Agreement and subsequently issue a Property Lease with Management Agreement- Please provide your views on this and confirm the minimum term you would consider reasonable for the Property Lease and the Management Agreement and your reasons for this. iv. Where it is the intention to secure all of the funding required to deliver the Scheme, please confirm to what extent you would consider covering any funding gap v. Noting the key timescales set out by the Council above, please provide your view on if these are achievable This Preliminary Market Engagement serves to alert the marketplace to this opportunity and enable the Council to use any gathered information to shape the proposed procurement. The Council invites interested prospective contractors to lodge an initial expression of interest for this opportunity electronically via Proactis https://supplierlive.proactisp2p.com/Account/Login. PLEASE NOTE All written feedback must be submitted before 12:0 noon on Friday 30th October 2026. Following consideration of the feedback the Council may wish to engage in further discussions with the respondents. Any feedback received by the Council will be considered confidential.

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