Development Partner for Shrub Hill Quarter, Worcester

Description

Worcestershire County Council (''WCC'') is seeking to procure a Development Partner for part of the Shrub Hill Quarter, an area which extends from Shrub Hill Station to the city centre.
The proposed development of Shrub Hill Quarter (of which this opportunity comprises part) has the potential to become one of the largest regeneration initiatives in the region, offering a unique opportunity to transform a significant part of Worcester, close to the city centre, and create an exemplary mixed-use neighbourhood. There is potential that the rail station at Shrub Hill will benefit from future signalling upgrades, which will significantly improve the city's connectivity and accessibility.
Over the past few years, WCC has begun to unlock long-term opportunities by developing a concept masterplan, the Shrub Hill Spatial Blueprint, and securing funding to aid with the demolition and redevelopment of key components of Phase 1. A range of technical due diligence has already been undertaken across the land assets that WCC own, which comprise the whole of Phase 1. A Shrub Hill Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) is also due to be adopted shortly. This work has been undertaken with the support of key public sector partners, including Worcester City Council and London and Continental Railways (LCR).
WCC are looking forward to working with the selected partner to secure the successful delivery of the vision as follows:
"With transformed national connectivity and inspiring heritage, Shrub Hill will become a vibrant new community and destination for Worcester. It will be a home for enterprise, ideas, and experiences; a place which is recognised for sustainable and innovative forms of living, working and relaxing, and which is driven by local energy & participation. Supporting City and County investment and growth aspirations, it will become established as an exemplar for successful and inspiring urban renewal and investment".
The vision and overarching ambitions for the Shrub Hill Quarter are described in more detail within the Shrub Hill Quarter Vision document which was jointly created by Worcestershire County Council and Worcester City Council and endorsed by the Worcestershire Local Enterprise Partnership.
Preliminary studies suggest that in the next 20 years the area could provide:
- Up to 5,000 jobs
- 500 + homes
- A new gateway to Worcester City Centre
- 2 hectares of new public space.
The Quarter will be an extension of the city centre and provide excellent local, regional and national connections. The employment element will co-exist with new homes, concentrating around a re-energised canal and high quality public realm.
The Quarter will develop along a main green spine which will connect Shrub Hill Station to the city and this will be supported by a series of new pedestrian and cycle links through the area. The layout of the Quarter will be generated from movement routes and view corridors with a particular focus on using the area's heritage (canal and built form) to establish character and reinforce wayfinding.
Illustrative masterplan example for entire vision area:
Residential approx. 37,000 sq m (398,265 sq ft) 
Commercial approx. 87,500 sq m (941,842 sq ft) 
Residential parking approx. 140
Commercial parking approx. 380
Following Cabinet approval in March 2024, supported by Soft Market Testing in August 2023 and August 2024, WCC now intends to formally procure a development partner to take forward the development of WCC's land in the Shrub Hill Quarter.
A Descriptive Document is made available that sets out the principal objectives and the requirements of the Competitive Dialogue procurement process, alongside a summary of the key components of the opportunity.
NB The estimated total value included in II.1.5 is further clarified as being the Phase 1 Indicative GDV which is estimated at £80m - £90m.