Wexford County Council Seeks Developer for Trinity Wharf Mixed-Use Urban Quarter

Wexford County Council invites responses from economic operators who are interested in participating in this competitive dialogue procurement process for the delivery of a high quality mixed-use urban quarter on County Council owned lands at Trinity Wharf, Wexford. The Competition is being run in accordance with the European Union (Award of Public Authority Contracts) Regulations 2016 (S.I. No. 284 of 2016).

The tender outlines the vision for Trinity Wharf and the factors that make it a such a unique opportunity. Located between Wexford Harbour and Wexford town centre, with panoramic waterfront views, the scheme aims to regenerate a derelict brownfield site, transforming it into a first-class mixed-use urban quarter, with sustainability at its core.

The current Trinity Wharf master plan incorporates three commercial office blocks, a hotel and conference/cultural centre, residential units, marina, retail offering and a multi-storey car park. Together, these components will integrate with a network of attractive public realm infrastructure and amenities, designed around a focal public realm plaza.

It is intended that Trinity Wharf will be a new centre for leisure, tourism and economic development in Wexford Town. However, Wexford County Council is open to considering a proposal which includes some (but not necessarily all) of these elements, or alternatively, a mix of these elements, depending on the viability of the proposal.

The Trinity Wharf development is a key component of Wexford County Council’s economic development strategy. This is reflected in the planning policies of the Wexford County Development Plan 2022-2028, which are explicitly backed by the Plan’s Strategic Objectives.

Due to the constraints of the template form, this contract has been described as a “works” contract, and the form of contract has been stated to be “PWCF2 Works Contract Designed by the Contractor”. However, in reality, this opportunity is not a traditional works contract.

Rather, Wexford County Council is seeking proposals from developers as to the development of a high quality mixed-use urban quarter on County Council owned lands at Trinity Wharf, Wexford, with the expectation that elements that will form part of that development will evolve during the dialogue process depending on the viability of the proposal.

For this reason, the competitive dialogue process has been chosen, with the intention to use a bespoke form of contract (which will be subject to the dialogue process). Applicants should disregard statements to the contrary in this contract notice, which are a feature of the constraints on completing the template form.

Candidates should also note that the standard Contract Notice wording required that Wexford County Council choose from certain pre-populated options as to the form of contract. However, noting the nature of this opportunity, and the fact that this is a development and regeneration project (rather than a traditional works contract), the listed options are not appropriate.

Candidates should therefore disregard the reference to PW-CF2. The form of contract to be entered into will likely be a bespoke form of development agreement which will be subject to dialogue during the dialogue phase. Candidates should note that the form of development agreement may be structured in phases or packages, which may envisage delivery of the opportunity pursuant to distinct call off contracts.

While the final form of agreement is not yet determined, Candidates should note that it may take the form of a single development agreement or a form which is more akin to a single-supplier framework agreement. Further detail will be provided at dialogue stage.

The contracting authority estimates that the maximum value is approximately €150M although this is subject to the contracting authority’s entitlement to make modifications in excess of this value in accordance with Article 72 of Directive 2014/24.