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PROCUREMENT OPPORTUNITY

Longbarn Community Hub - Operator

Trafford Council · Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender

Tender information last checkedLast checked 27 Sept 2026, 04:52.

Opportunity overview

Longford Park is Trafford's largest public park and a designated conservation area which is undergoing a major multi‑million‑pound restoration and improvement programme led by Trafford Council. The initiative is supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF), forming part of an overall £6 million investment into the park. The project is built around improving Longford Park for people, wildlife, and heritage. Its key aims include: • Heritage Restoration • Biodiversity & Nature • Facilities & Public Realm Upgrades • Community Engagement & Wellbeing Part of the project will involve the restoration of the park's Longbarn, for use as a community hub . We are carrying out `soft market testing' as outlined below, to determine current interest levels in the market in managing and operating the Longbarn. Trafford Council seeks an experienced operator to manage the Longbarn Community Hub in Longford Park. The Longbarn is a heritage building in Longford Park, currently undergoing restoration, that will offer flexible spaces for volunteering, learning, arts & culture, health & wellbeing and community participation. The successful organisation will be responsible for ensuring that its operation meets the terms of the lease and agreed KPIs, reporting to Trafford Council and hiring the space out to other organisations. The building will also act as a hub for information and enhancement of the park's visitor experience. The development of the Longbarn will reuse the existing building fabric sustainably with scope for a more sensitive and sustainable retrofit. Lease proposed:10-year term, subject to negotiation and discussion with the selected operator. The appointed operator will be responsible for maintaining the Longbarn to an appropriate standard throughout the duration of the lease. The operator will be responsible for all repairs and maintenance of the Longbarn's internal and external areas, including statutory compliance. THIS IS NOT A CALL FOR COMPETITION This Soft Market Test is intended to allow interested organisations with relevant experience to outline their views and provide information with no commitment to themselves or the Council.

Classification

  • CPV50700000 — Repair and maintenance services of building installations
  • CPV70330000 — Property management services of real estate on a fee or contract basis

Lots

  • Lot 1Value not stated

Documents and notices

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.

Scope, procedure and submissions

Id
ocds-h6vhtk-06c694
Main Procurement Category
services
Above Threshold
Yes
Status
planning

Legal basis

Id
2023/54
Scheme
UKPGA

Lots and requirements

Entry 1
Id
1
Status
planning

Suitability

Sme
Yes

Contract period

Starts
4 Jan 2027, 00:00
Ends
3 Jan 2037, 23:59

Items and delivery

Item 1
Id
1
Related Lot
1

Additional Classifications

Entry 1
Scheme
CPV
Id
50700000
Description
Repair and maintenance services of building installations
Entry 2
Scheme
CPV
Id
70330000
Description
Property management services of real estate on a fee or contract basis

Delivery locations

Entry 1
Region
UKD3
Country
GB
Country Name
United Kingdom

Planning and budget

Milestones

Entry 1
Id
engagement
Type
engagement
Description
The Soft Market Test document will be issued via The Chest (project ID DN821638). Further details of the requirements can be found in the documents attached to the opportunity. To register interest in the opportunity and respond, suppliers will need to register on The Chest https://www.the-chest.org.uk/ Interested suppliers are required to complete the company information form and a short questionnaire. Suppliers who complete and return the questionnaire may be invited to meet with Council representatives to discuss its requirements. The questionnaire should be returned via The Chest - https://www.the-chest.org.uk/ by Wednesday 5th August 12pm. If Suppliers have any questions about this soft market test, such questions should be submitted to the Council using the 'Question and Answer' facility within the opportunity advertised on The Chest. A copy of the question and a copy of the written reply may be circulated to all Suppliers, with anonymity of the Supplier preserved. Suppliers must not raise questions through any other channels, including emails direct to the Council or to STAR Procurement. No questions will be responded to, other than those raised through The Chest as described above. We encourage your participation in this soft market testing exercise, but must emphasise that your involvement in this exercise will not carry any commercial advantage in any ensuing procurement process. No information provided in response to this soft market testing exercise will be used in any evaluation of any subsequent response to a procurement exercise.
Due
5 Aug 2026, 23:59
Status
scheduled

Documents

Entry 1
Id
064291-2026
Document Type
marketEngagementNotice
Notice Type
UK2
Description
Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender
Published
8 Jul 2026, 14:45
Format
text/html

Buyer, suppliers and contacts

Organisation 1
Name
Trafford Council
Id
GB-PPON-PGZW-1429-QQZQ

Identifier

Scheme
GB-PPON
Id
PGZW-1429-QQZQ

Address

Street Address
Trafford Town Hall, Talbot Road
Locality
Manchester
Postal Code
M32 0TH
Country
GB
Country Name
United Kingdom
Region
UKD34

Contact

Roles

buyer

Details

Classifications

Entry 1
Scheme
UK_CA_TYPE
Id
publicAuthoritySubCentralGovernment
Description
Public authority - sub-central government

Recorded locations

  • Buyer location · Manchester · UKD34 · M32 0TH · United Kingdom
  • Delivery location · UKD3 · United Kingdom

Notice and amendment history

1 published notice version reviewed by ProcuraAxis.

1 VERSION
  1. 064291-2026Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender ·