Purpose

The river restoration (RR) works within
Bedminster Green were identified in the Bedminster Green Framework
(2019) as strategic infrastructure required to reduce flood risk to
the wider area and to support the regeneration of Bedminster. The
river restoration will restore historic in-channel heritage
features (penstock), provide improved public realm and green space
and improved habitat to facilitate a biodiversity net gain,
alongside reducing flood risk to the wider Bedminster area.
November 2021 Cabinet authorised funding for the River Malago
Restoration and delegated authority for procurement of necessary
contracts to deliver the project.
The river restoration was granted planning permission in October
2024 and an open tender for the first phase of the RR construction
work in Plot 3 was undertaken in June/July 2025. RR works in Plot 3
is required to be constructed as soon as possible, to mitigate the
flood risk for the Plot 3 development in line with their Flood Risk
Assessment (agreed as part of their planning permission).

Content

To award the construction contract for the
River Restoration works within Plot 3 of Bedminster Green to the
Suttle Projects Limited after undergoing a competitive tender
process.

Alternative options considered

In 2023 Bristol City Council (BCC) considered
direct award of the River Restoration construction works in Plot 3
to the developer of Plot 3 (to simplify construction logistics with
two projects being constructed on site in tandem), however this
route was rejected on the grounds of the tender being
uneconomically feasible.
BCC has since undertaken an open tender process, run under the new
Procurement Act 2023, to procure the works package to gain a more
competitively priced tender.