Quotation for Supply of Master Scoping Consultancy for Sandwell Valley

Overview

Sandwell Council, Borough Economy, are seeking a consultant or consultancy to conduct a master plan scoping exercise and deliver a final master plan for consideration for Sandwell Valley.

Sandwell Valley Country Park

Sandwell Valley Country Park is the jewel in Sandwell's crown. With over 308 hectares of open countryside, Forge Mill Farm, Sandwell Valley Visitor Centre, RSPB Visitor Centre Adventure Playground, Visitor Attractions, Heritage Sites and Monuments, Mountain Bike Tracks, Outdoor Sports Facilities, and Walking Routes for all ages and lots more.

Sandwell Valley is estimated to attract around 1m visitors a year and has an ambitious target to increase visitors to our attractions on site to over 200,000 a year in the next 5 years. Sandwell Valley has recently started a phased approach to improvements, with phase one including enhanced Sandwell Valley Visitor Centre and Forge Mill Farm offerings, new branding and marketing assets, catering improvements, and transition to digital and more efficient operational management. We have also secured investment in 22/23 into a new play barn and caf? facility at Forge Mill Farm, and Victorian Kitchen Garden built facilities improvements at Sandwell Valley Visitor Centre. There is currently a clear business plan in place for the current income sources, to achieve a self-sustained position within the next three financial years.

We are also embarking on a master planning exercise that will see consultation on investment plans into the wider Sandwell Valley estate (c700 hectares), increasing our venue hire and education offerings, and securing the long-term sustainability of the estate. This scoping and master plan exercise will address the areas not yet considered, including additional income streams, use of buildings and land not currently utilised fully or at all, transport and traffic management options for visitor ingress and egress, heritage development and management across the Sandwell Valley estate, and potential investment and funding sources.

The delivery of this marketing strategy will need to be the following timescales (these are deadlines, and may be brought forward dependent on consultancy availability and officer time):

1. Masterplan Research and Pre-Consultation (Nov / Dec 22)
2. Draft Masterplan for early review / discussions (Jan 23)
3. Draft Masterplan consultation (Jan / Feb 23)
4. Final Masterplan and Implementation Plan for decision (Mar 23)
5. Masterplan Cabinet Report (including Cabinet Workshop, involving masterplan consultancy) (Mar / Apr 23)

Additional information:

Complete the quotation document and questions.

Is a Recurrent Procurement Type? : No