North West Construction Hub High Value Framework 2027–2031: Everything You Need to Know

Dominic Hodges
2 days ago
6 min read

Manchester City Council is re-procuring the North West Construction Hub High Value Construction Framework for 2027–2031, creating a major opportunity for construction contractors looking to secure a place on one of the region’s most established public sector procurement routes.

North West Construction Hub High Value Framework

The framework is expected to support a significant pipeline of high-value public sector construction projects across the North West, with total spend estimated at up to £1 billion over the framework’s lifetime.

For contractors, this is a strategically important opportunity. The framework will cover projects across local authorities, NHS Trusts, universities, colleges, emergency services, transport bodies and other public sector organisations.

In this guide, we outline what the framework is, who can use it, how it will be evaluated and how Procter Street can help construction firms prepare a strong, compliant and competitive bid.

What Is the North West Construction Hub?

The North West Construction Hub, often referred to as NWCH, is one of the most established and successful collaborative construction frameworks in the United Kingdom.

Operated by Manchester City Council, NWCH has been running for over five consecutive four-year cycles. During that time, it has delivered 750 projects worth a combined £2.93 billion on behalf of 113 public sector clients across the North West of England.

NWCH has supported a wide range of public sector projects, including:

Schools
Hospitals
Leisure centres
Emergency services buildings
University campuses
Other public sector facilities

The framework provides a streamlined, best-value procurement route for public sector organisations across Greater Manchester, Lancashire, Merseyside, Cheshire and Cumbria.

The upcoming High Value Construction Framework 2027–2031 represents a significant opportunity for ambitious construction firms looking to access a pipeline of high-profile public sector work.

NWCH High Value Framework 2027–2031: Key Details

The new North West Construction Hub High Value Framework is divided into three value-banded lots.

Lot	Value Band	Maximum Suppliers
Lot 1	£8 million – £18 million	Up to 8
Lot 2	£18 million – £45 million	Up to 8
Lot 3	£45 million+	Up to 6

Contractors can bid for multiple lots. However, suppliers may only be appointed to a maximum of two adjacent lots.

This means a contractor may be appointed to:

Lot 1 and Lot 2
Lot 2 and Lot 3

A contractor cannot be appointed to Lot 1 and Lot 3.

This structure has been designed to promote supply chain resilience, encourage SME participation and avoid over-concentration of risk.

Framework Duration

The framework will run for three years from January 2027, with the option to extend for an additional year.

This means the framework has a potential total duration of four years.

Estimated Framework Value

The total spend across the lifetime of the North West Construction Hub High Value Framework is estimated at up to £1 billion.

However, no volume or value of work is guaranteed to any individual supplier.

Who Can Use the NWCH High Value Framework?

The NWCH High Value Framework will be available to a wide range of public sector organisations across the North West.

Eligible users include:

Local authorities across Greater Manchester, Lancashire, Merseyside, Cheshire and Cumbria
Combined authorities, including GMCA and Liverpool City Region
NHS Trusts, including over 30 listed organisations such as Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool University Hospitals and The Christie
Universities and colleges, including the University of Manchester, Lancaster University, Liverpool John Moores University and dozens of further education colleges
Emergency services, including police, fire and rescue services across all North West counties
Transport bodies, including Transport for Greater Manchester and Manchester Airport Group
Other public bodies, including the Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Justice, Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, dioceses and more

Public bodies situated outside the North West may also access the framework if they are carrying out projects within the region, following consultation with NWCH.

How Will NWCH Framework Tenders Be Evaluated?

The award criteria for the NWCH High Value Framework are split across quality, social value, environment and price.

Criterion	Weighting
Quality	40%
Social Value	20%
Environment	10%
Price	30%

This means 70% of the evaluation is based on non-price criteria, making quality, social value and environmental performance central to a successful bid.

For contractors, this means a strong submission must do more than offer a competitive price. It must clearly demonstrate technical capability, collaborative working, social value delivery, environmental commitments and proven experience on comparable projects.

Conditions of Participation

Before a tender is even scored, bidders must satisfy a number of conditions of participation. These cover financial capacity, technical ability, health and safety and wider compliance requirements.

Financial Capacity

Bidders will need to provide evidence of financial standing, including:

A soft credit check via Company Watch or a similar tool
Audited accounts for the two most recent financial years
Financial ratio analysis aligned with the Government Sourcing Playbook
Minimum insurance levels of:
- £10m Employer’s Liability
- £10m Public Liability
- £5m Professional Indemnity

Technical Ability

Bidders must demonstrate relevant technical capability.

Single entities must provide at least one relevant contract example of a similar nature and value from the past three years.

Consortium bids require two to three examples across principal members.

Health and Safety

Bidders must also evidence robust health and safety arrangements, including:

SSIP accreditation or equivalent evidence
A comprehensive health and safety policy compliant with the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974
RIDDOR reporting arrangements
CDM 2015 compliance for Principal Contractor and Principal Designer duties

Key Dates for the North West Construction Hub High Value Framework

Construction firms interested in bidding should be aware of the following dates.

Milestone	Date
Clarification deadline	22 May 2026
Tender submission deadline	1 June 2026, 11:00 AM
Evaluation period	July – August 2026
Contract award notice	November – December 2026
Framework commencement	January 2027

The submission deadline is 1 June 2026 at 11:00 AM, so contractors should begin preparing their evidence, quality responses and commercial submission as early as possible.

What Makes the NWCH Framework Different?

The North West Construction Hub model is built around genuine partnering and collaboration, rather than purely transactional procurement.

Key differentiators include:

Early Contractor Involvement

The framework supports pre-construction services, including option appraisals, feasibility studies and design development.

Framework Management Group

The Framework Management Group provides quarterly strategic meetings with all framework partners.

Special Interest Groups

Focused working groups help drive continuous improvement across the framework.

Digital Delivery Expectations

The framework expects alignment with BS EN ISO 19650 and the Information Management Initiative Framework, with BIM acting as a core enabler.

Embedded Social Value

Social value is built into the framework, with expectations around apprenticeships, local supply chain maximisation, carbon reduction and fair payment.

Robust KPI Monitoring

Performance will be monitored through KPIs covering:

Cost predictability
Time predictability
Health and safety
Fair payment
Quality
Client satisfaction

These requirements mean successful contractors will need to demonstrate not only delivery capability, but also a collaborative mindset, strong governance, clear reporting and a commitment to continuous improvement.

Why Early Bid Preparation Matters

Winning a place on the NWCH High Value Framework could transform a contractor’s public sector pipeline.

However, the competition is expected to be strong. The framework has a high estimated value, a broad public sector client base and a limited number of supplier places across each lot.

Because the tender is being run through a single-stage Open Procedure, bidders only get one opportunity to submit a compliant, compelling and fully evidenced response.

That makes early preparation critical.

Contractors should use the time before submission to:

Review the lot structure and select the right bidding strategy
Gather relevant project examples
Prepare evidence of financial capacity
Check insurance and accreditation requirements
Develop social value commitments
Strengthen environmental responses
Align quality answers to the scoring criteria
Review the commercial submission carefully before deadline

How Procter Street Can Help

At Procter Street, we help construction firms prepare stronger, more competitive bids for complex public sector frameworks.

Our team of construction consultancy specialists provides end-to-end bid support, from tender sourcing and strategy through to response writing and commercial submission.

We understand what evaluators are looking for, how to evidence capability clearly and how to maximise scores across quality, social value, environment and price.

Whether you are a Tier 1 contractor targeting Lot 3 or an ambitious regional firm looking to secure a place on Lot 1, Procter Street can help you put your best foot forward.

Our NWCH Framework Bid Support Services

Procter Street can support your bid through:

Bid Strategy and Lot Selection

We help you assess which lots are most appropriate and how to position your organisation competitively.

Quality Response Writing

We develop clear, evaluator-focused responses that directly address the scoring criteria.

Social Value Support

We help translate your commitments into credible, measurable and locally relevant social value responses.

Environmental Response Development

We support the development of strong environmental answers, including carbon reduction, sustainable delivery and project-level evidence.

Case Study and Evidence Development

We help turn your previous project experience into compelling evidence aligned to the framework requirements.

Compliance Reviews

We review your submission against the conditions of participation and tender requirements to help reduce the risk of avoidable errors.

Commercial Submission Support

We help ensure your pricing submission is clear, consistent and aligned with your wider bid strategy.

Ready to Bid for the NWCH High Value Framework?

The North West Construction Hub High Value Framework 2027–2031 represents a major opportunity for construction firms seeking long-term access to public sector projects across the North West.

With a total estimated value of up to £1 billion, a strong public sector client base and a clear focus on quality, social value, environment and collaboration, this is a framework that contractors should take seriously.

The tender submission deadline is 1 June 2026 at 11:00 AM.

Contact Procter Street today to discuss how we can support your NWCH High Value Framework bid and help give your submission the competitive edge it needs.