Manchester City Council has published the procurement for the North West Construction Hub (NWCH) High Value Construction Framework 2027–2031 (reference TC621 / P1007). Valued at £1,200,000,000 including VAT over four years, this is one of the most significant construction framework procurements in the North West, and one of the largest currently in the UK public sector pipeline.
The framework covers new-build construction as well as demolition, refurbishment, and remodelling of existing properties owned or occupied by public sector bodies across the North West. It is used by a wide range of public sector clients through the NWCH consortium, including local authorities, NHS trusts, housing associations, universities, and blue-light services. This makes it a strategically important vehicle for contractors seeking a consistent pipeline of high-value public sector work in the region.
If you're assessing whether to bid, get in touch with Thornton & Lowe. You can also learn more about the support we offer on our dedicated frameworks page.
About the North West Construction Hub
The NWCH was established in 2009 and has facilitated over 436 projects for more than 113 clients, at a combined estimated value exceeding £2.2 billion. It operates three framework tiers based on contract value: Low Value (£500k–£3m), Medium Value (£2m–£10m), and High Value (£8m+). This procurement is for the High Value tier, meaning the individual call-off contracts awarded through the framework will typically be £8 million and above.
The framework start date is 2027, and the expected submission deadline is 1 June 2026, giving contractors a defined window to prepare and submit.
Who Should Be Bidding?
Given the High Value threshold, this framework is most relevant to:
- Main contractors with a track record of delivering public sector construction projects at £8m+ contract value
- Regional and national contractors with experience working across the North West for local authorities, NHS, housing associations, or universities
- Businesses with demonstrable capability across new-build, refurbishment, and demolition; the scope is broad, and lot structures may accommodate different specialisms
- Contractors with the management infrastructure to operate across multiple clients and sites under a framework agreement
Key Details at a Glance
- Framework name: NWCH High Value Construction Framework 2027–2031 (TC621 / P1007)
- Authority: Manchester City Council (on behalf of the NWCH consortium)
- Estimated value: £1,200,000,000 including VAT
- Duration: 4 years (from 2027)
- Works included: New-build, demolition, refurbishment, and remodelling for public sector clients across the North West
- Submission deadline: 1 June 2026
- Find a Tender notice: View the official notice here
What Will Make a Strong Submission?
- North West public sector track record: The NWCH consortium's breadth means your evidence needs to resonate with a wide range of public sector client types. Prioritise case studies from local authority, NHS, education, and housing association clients, and ideally from projects in the North West.
- Social value: As with all NWCH frameworks, social value will be a material part of the evaluation. The Hub's clients care about local employment, apprenticeships, supply chain spend, and community benefit. Prepare a substantive, quantified social value response, not a generic commitments statement.
- Multi-client governance: Framework users range from small district councils to large NHS trusts. Show how your management structure and reporting processes can adapt to different client types and scales.
- Capacity and scalability: At £1.2 billion across four years, the framework will generate significant call-off volume. Address your resourcing model, subcontract strategy, and ability to mobilise across concurrent projects.
The NWCH High Value Framework is a cornerstone procurement opportunity for construction contractors operating in the North West. A successful bid can unlock a four-year pipeline of high-value public sector work across the region's most important clients.
With a submission deadline of 1 June 2026, the time to start preparing is now. Contact Thornton & Lowe today: our team can help you assess your positioning, develop your bid strategy, and produce a submission that stands out in a competitive field.
