Purpose

The report sets out recommendations to
undertake a procurement process for a developer partner to
undertake the regeneration of Morden Town centre and for the
Council to commit to a capital contribution to the funding required
for the project.

Decision

RESOLVED:
 
Cabinet is asked to:
 
A. Approve that the Council
undertakes a procurement process in the manner described in this
Report in order to select a developer to
deliver the Council’s vision for the regeneration of Morden
under a form of phased development agreement as
described.
 
B. Delegate authority to the
Executive Director for Housing and Sustainable Development in
consultation with the Executive Director of Finance and Digital and
the Director of Governance and Civic Services to finalise the
documents and associated processes for the procurement and to
undertake the procurement to select a developer agreeing that the
Gateway 1 report will, as a deviation from the Council’s
Contract Standing Orders, be presented after these Cabinet
approvals and prior to the commencement of the
procurement.
 
C. Note the feedback from
interested parties in the Pre-Market Engagement (PME) exercise
undertaken to help shape the procurement process and delivery
structure.
 
D. Note that following
evaluation of final tenders, Cabinet will consider a report setting
out the results of the procurement process; any recommendation to
enter into a contract with a proposed
developer and the financial and other implications for the Council
of doing so.
 
E. Approve the addition of
£30m to the Council’s capital programme for Morden Town
Centre and recommend to Full Council for ratification on 25th
February 2026.
 
F. Approve in principle the
contribution of the Council’s land to the project, subject to
the Council satisfying its duty to obtain the best consideration
reasonably obtainable under s123 of the Local Government Act
1972.
 
G. Delegate authority to the
Executive Director for Housing and Sustainable Development in
consultation with the Executive Director of Finance and Digital to
make applications for grant and loan funding to support the project
and enter into agreements with funding bodies to receive
funds.
 
H. Note the update on the
Morden Town Centre meanwhile use programme and the improvements to
Morden Town Centre.