✓Tender information last checkedLast checked 6 Oct 2026, 14:41.
Opportunity overview
L&Q are undertaking this preliminary market engagement (PME) to inform the design of a future procurement exercise for an Architect for our Trafford Water site.
About L&Q
L&Q is one of the UK's largest charitable housing associations, owning and managing over 105,000 homes across Greater London and Greater Manchester. Alongside its core role as a housing provider, L&Q is an active developer and regeneration partner, delivering new homes across a range of tenures, including affordable housing and market. L&Q's development programme focuses on creating high-quality, sustainable places that support thriving communities and respond to local housing needs.
London and Quadrant Housing Trust (L&Q) is seeking to procure an architect for RIBA stages 2 and 3 in relation to plots 3.4 and 5.3 at Trafford Waters, Manchester, M41 7JE. L&Q may seek to expand the remit of this appointment to cover other stages, and sites in the Trafford Waters Development.
The Project
Trafford Waters is a 53-acre regeneration site being master developed by Peel Group, with outline consent for up to 3,000 homes alongside significant public open space, commercial uses, and a new school. L&Q have already delivered an initial phase of the site, the Pearson Place scheme, comprising 83 apartments, and are now progressing the acquisition of further plots 3.4 and 5.3 within the masterplan.
Initial feasibility studies highlight the requirement for a high quality, high density family housing scheme that aligns with the requirements of the Trafford Design Code reflects the high density aspirations of the Outline Planning Consent (Reference: 85282/OUT/15).
An initial high level programme is as follows, please note all dates are indicative and subject to change.
Pre Market Engagement: October 2026
Tender / Framework call off: October 2026 – January 2026 (subject to decision on route to market)
Start of Services: January 2027
Planning Submission: May 2027
Start on Site: January 2028
L&Q wish to understand the capacity and capability of potential suppliers in the market to deliver our aims for high quality high density family housing schemes to inform our route to market. L&Q are eager to explore services beyond traditional architectural services – including how you can help us:
1. Ensure viability of the site
2. Assist with sales development / promotion of the dwellings
3. Manage risks of the development
Classification
CPV71200000 — Architectural and related services
CPV71220000 — Architectural design services
CPV71221000 — Architectural services for buildings
CPV71400000 — Urban planning and landscape architectural services
CPV71420000 — Landscape architectural services
Lots
Lot 1Value not stated
Documents and notices
Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a TenderOpen source ↗
Published notice details
Additional information from the published procurement release. Fields appear only when supplied by the source; check the original notice and tender documents before acting.
Urban planning and landscape architectural services
Entry 5
Scheme
CPV
Id
71420000
Description
Landscape architectural services
Delivery locations
Entry 1
Region
UKD3
Country
GB
Country Name
United Kingdom
Planning and budget
Milestones
Entry 1
Id
engagement
Type
engagement
Description
L&Q are requesting that potential suppliers complete the questionnaire via in-tend, and submit their responses. This can be found by registering on In-tend via the link provided here:
https://in-tendhost.co.uk/lqsupplychainmanagement/aspx/Home
This PME is not intended to form part of any tender evaluation or selection process.
Due
16 Oct 2026, 23:59
Status
scheduled
Documents
Entry 1
Id
094260-2026
Document Type
marketEngagementNotice
Notice Type
UK2
Description
Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender
Buyer location · London · UKI41 · E15 4PN · United Kingdom
Delivery location · UKD3 · United Kingdom
Notice and amendment history
4 published notice versions reviewed by ProcuraAxis.
4 VERSIONS
1
093242-2026Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender ·
2
093695-2026Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender ·
3
094260-2026Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender ·
4
094266-2026Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender ·
PROCURAAXIS ANALYSIS
ProcuraAxis Analysis
Our approved analysis of the opportunity appears below the official tender information.
ANALYSIS PREVIEW
Opportunity intelligence at a glance
Early-stage preliminary market engagement for a future appointment of an architect for RIBA Stages 2 and 3 on plots 3.4 and 5.3 at Trafford Waters, Manchester. L&Q is testing market capacity and capability for high-quality, high-density family housing and may extend the appointment to other stages and sites.
Who this may suit
Suitable for architectural practices with residential, high-density housing, planning and regeneration experience. Suppliers able to support viability, sales development/promotion and development-risk management may be particularly relevant.
Key points identified
Core service requirementArchitectural services for RIBA Stages 2 and 3 for plots 3.4 and 5.3.Evidence: “seeking to procure an architect for RIBA stages 2 and 3 in relation to plots 3.4 and 5.3”
Housing design capabilityAbility to deliver high-quality, high-density family housing schemes.Evidence: “deliver our aims for high quality high density family housing schemes”
Design complianceDesign must align with the Trafford Design Code and high-density aspirations of the outline planning consent.Evidence: “aligns with the requirements of the Trafford Design Code reflects the high density aspirations of the Outline Planning Consent”
93% approved-analysis confidence8 supplier criteria identified5 risks or unknowns
ProcuraAxis structures information found in published procurement records, checks the result for consistency and publishes only approved analysis. Confidence describes the completeness and consistency of the available source information; it is not a guarantee of eligibility or contract award.
Early-stage preliminary market engagement for a future appointment of an architect for RIBA Stages 2 and 3 on plots 3.4 and 5.3 at Trafford Waters, Manchester. L&Q is testing market capacity and capability for high-quality, high-density family housing and may extend the appointment to other stages and sites.
Who this may suit
Suitable for architectural practices with residential, high-density housing, planning and regeneration experience. Suppliers able to support viability, sales development/promotion and development-risk management may be particularly relevant.
Key deliverables
Architectural services for RIBA Stages 2 and 3
Design of high-quality, high-density family housing
Alignment with the Trafford Design Code and outline planning consent
Potential support for site viability, sales development/promotion and development-risk management
SUPPLIER REQUIREMENTS
8 criteria identified
Core service requirement
99% confidence
Architectural services for RIBA Stages 2 and 3 for plots 3.4 and 5.3.
View supporting evidence
“seeking to procure an architect for RIBA stages 2 and 3 in relation to plots 3.4 and 5.3”
Housing design capability
96% confidence
Ability to deliver high-quality, high-density family housing schemes.
View supporting evidence
“deliver our aims for high quality high density family housing schemes”
Design compliance
94% confidence
Design must align with the Trafford Design Code and high-density aspirations of the outline planning consent.
View supporting evidence
“aligns with the requirements of the Trafford Design Code reflects the high density aspirations of the Outline Planning Consent”
Additional capability sought
98% confidence
L&Q wishes to explore support for site viability, sales development/promotion of dwellings, and development-risk management.
View supporting evidence
“explore services beyond traditional architectural services” including “Ensure viability of the site”, “Assist with sales development / promotion of the dwellings” and “Manage risks of the development”
Potential expanded remit
96% confidence
Appointment may be expanded to other RIBA stages and other Trafford Waters sites.
View supporting evidence
“may seek to expand the remit of this appointment to cover other stages, and sites in the Trafford Waters Development”
Supplier eligibility requirements
99% confidence
Unknown at this preliminary market engagement stage.
View supporting evidence
No selection, exclusion, financial standing, insurance or supplier-size requirements are stated.
SME suitability
99% confidence
Unknown.
View supporting evidence
The opportunity data does not state whether it is suitable for SMEs.
VCSE suitability
99% confidence
Unknown.
View supporting evidence
The opportunity data does not state whether it is suitable for VCSEs.
COMMERCIAL AND DELIVERY
Contract intelligence
Commercial
Estimated maximum value
91% confidence
Up to £800,000.
View supporting evidence
Opportunity value_max is GBP 800000.
Contract commercial terms
99% confidence
Unknown.
View supporting evidence
No pricing model, payment terms, contract duration or form of contract is stated.
Scope flexibility
96% confidence
L&Q may extend the services beyond RIBA Stages 2 and 3 and to other development sites.
View supporting evidence
“may seek to expand the remit of this appointment to cover other stages, and sites in the Trafford Waters Development”
Delivery
Delivery location
98% confidence
Trafford Waters, Manchester, M41 7JE; delivery region recorded as Greater Manchester (UKD3).
View supporting evidence
“Trafford Water site... Manchester, M41 7JE”; opportunity delivery location is UKD3.
Project site
99% confidence
Plots 3.4 and 5.3 within the Trafford Waters masterplan.
View supporting evidence
“plots 3.4 and 5.3 at Trafford Waters”
Indicative service start
87% confidence
January 2027.
View supporting evidence
“Start of Services: January 2027”; stated to be indicative and subject to change.
Indicative planning submission
87% confidence
May 2027.
View supporting evidence
“Planning Submission: May 2027”; stated to be indicative and subject to change.
Indicative construction start
87% confidence
January 2028.
View supporting evidence
“Start on Site: January 2028”; stated to be indicative and subject to change.
PROCEDURE
How to respond
Current stage
99% confidence
Preliminary market engagement / planning stage; this is not a live tender.
View supporting evidence
Notice type is “Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender”; L&Q is undertaking PME “to inform the design of a future procurement exercise”.
Route to market
98% confidence
Unknown; tender or framework call-off is being considered.
View supporting evidence
“Tender / Framework call off... (subject to decision on route to market)”
Indicative engagement timing
85% confidence
October 2026.
View supporting evidence
“Pre Market Engagement: October 2026”; dates are stated to be indicative and subject to change.
Indicative tender timing
99% confidence
Stated as October 2026 to January 2026, but this date range is internally inconsistent and should be treated as unreliable.
View supporting evidence
“Tender / Framework call off: October 2026 – January 2026”
Submission requirements
99% confidence
Unknown.
View supporting evidence
No response method, deadline, evaluation criteria or tender submission requirements are stated.
RISKS AND UNKNOWNS
Points requiring attention
Early-stage market engagement
99% confidence
The requirement is being market tested and may change before any procurement is launched; participation does not constitute a tender opportunity.
View supporting evidence
L&Q is conducting PME “to inform the design of a future procurement exercise”.
Procurement route uncertainty
98% confidence
The route to market is undecided, with tender and framework call-off both referenced.
View supporting evidence
“subject to decision on route to market”
Scope expansion risk
96% confidence
The service scope may expand beyond RIBA Stages 2 and 3 and beyond the named plots.
View supporting evidence
“may seek to expand the remit... to cover other stages, and sites”
Indicative timetable
99% confidence
All stated programme dates are indicative and subject to change.
View supporting evidence
“please note all dates are indicative and subject to change”
Inconsistent tender dates
99% confidence
The stated tender/framework-call-off range ends before it begins, making the timetable unreliable.
View supporting evidence
“October 2026 – January 2026”
ProcuraAxis analysis supplements, but does not replace, the original notice and tender documents. Always verify eligibility, deadlines and commercial terms with the issuing authority.
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