Crown Estate lines up £25m Hemel housing testbed job | Construction Enquirer News

The job will be let on a two-stage design and build basis, with the successful bidder first brought in under a pre-construction services agreement to shape the detailed design and delivery strategy before moving on to construction. Westwick Row will deliver around 80 homes on a five-acre site east of Leverstock Green, with a mix of flats and houses across market, affordable and rental tenures, including a cohousing element. But the scheme’s real significance lies in its role as a pilot for the Crown Estate’s wider East Hemel plans, where proposals are coming forward for around 4,000 homes across a 975-acre site. Lessons on layout, construction methods, sustainability and community-led design will be tested at Westwick Row before being rolled out across the larger masterplan. The development is being designed around low-car streets, shared green spaces and community living, with timber-frame construction, solar panels and high-performance fabric standards aimed at cutting carbon and energy use. The Crown Estate is using a competitive flexible procedure, with bidders first assessed on quality before shortlisted firms are invited to submit full technical and cost proposals. Firms have until 27 March to register interest, with a preferred bidder due to be selected by 29 June. A contractor is expected to start work following PCSA completion in summer 2026, with the four-year programme running through to 2030, positioning the winner at the front of the pipeline for the wider Eas...