www.wmhbt.org.uk West Midlands Historic Buildings Trust Responses to queries about this tender opportunity, as and when issued, will be available to download from www.wmhbt.org.uk HIMLEY HALL KITCHEN GARDEN, EAST YARD AND LODGE: BRIEF FOR A FEASIBILITY STUDY AND CONSERVATION MANAGEMENT PLAN ON BEHALF OF THE WEST MIDLANDS HISTORIC BUILDINGS TRUST Table of Contents 1. INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................... 2 A. THE PROPERTY .............................................................................................................................................. 3 B. WEST MIDLANDS HISTORIC BUILDINGS TRUST ................................................................................................... 4 3. THE FEASIBILITY STUDY WORK TO BE DONE ........................................................................................ 4 4. THE CONSERVATION MANAGEMENT PLAN WORK TO BE DONE ........................................................... 7 5. ACCESS ARRANGEMENTS .................................................................................................................... 7 6. BUDGET AND PAYMENT SCHEDULE ..................................................................................................... 7 7. PROJECT MANAGEMENT AND MONITORING ....................................................................................... 7 8. TENDER PROCESS ................................................................................................................................ 8 A. INFORMATION REQUIRED TO TENDER ................................................................................................................ 8 B. TENDER VALIDITY PERIOD ............................................................................................................................... 9 C. SUBMISSION OF TENDERS ............................................................................................................................... 9 D. EVALUATION OF TENDERS ............................................................................................................................... 9 E. TIMING ..................................................................................................................................................... 11 9. COPYRIGHT AND CONFIDENTIALITY ................................................................................................... 11 10. FURTHER INFORMATION AND CONTACT DETAILS .............................................................................. 11 11. APPENDICES ...................................................................................................................................... 12 APPENDIX A: GOOGLE IMAGES WITH THE SUBJECT AREA EDGED IN RED .................................................................. 12 APPENDIX B: LOCATION PLAN, MAP REGRESSION AND AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHS (IMAGES PROVIDED BY DUDLEY MBC) ..... 13 Himley Hall Kitchen Garden, East Yard and Lodge Tender brief 1. Introduction West Midlands Historic Buildings Trust (WMHBT) require consultants to: (i) carry out a study and produce a report investigating the feasibility of undertaking the repair, conversion and upgrading of the kitchen garden, east yard and associated historic structures, lodge, entrance gates and the area of land to the south of the kitchen garden between the walls and the road and to assess possible end uses; and (ii) prepare a conservation management plan based on existing information plus new data produced through preparation of the feasibility study. The commissioning of these pieces of work are dependent upon WMHBT being successful with applications to funding bodies, including the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) and the Architectural Heritage Fund. The initiative is supported by Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council (DMBC), owners of the property. Note: Tenders will be equally welcome from consultants wishing to apply for both aspects of the work described by this brief or for either one of the two parts if preferred. It is a condition of submitting a tender that information produced will be made available for use by all consultants appointed by WMHBT. West Midlands Historic Buildings Trust does not bind itself to accept the lowest or any tender, and no person making a submission will be remunerated for any trouble or expense incurred in its preparation. This document sets out details of the brief, the tender process, information to be included within tender proposals by prospective consultants, assessment criteria and weightings, and a timetable for the appointment process and for completion of the work. Tender proposals are required to include fee scales to implement the recommendations of the feasibility study, subject to WMHBT choosing to do that, securing the necessary permissions and funding, and deciding at that point in time whether it is appropriate to appoint based on the successful tender in response to this invitation or to invite new tenders. West Midlands Historic Buildings Trust Page 2 of 17 August 2016 Himley Hall Kitchen Garden, East Yard and Lodge Tender brief 2. Background information a. The property The focus of this tender brief is the disused kitchen garden, east yard, entrance gates and currently part-tenanted entrance lodge at Himley Hall, Dudley (NGR SO 88396 91175), together forming part of the landscaped park designed by Capability Brown in 1779. Himley Hall is the former home of the Earls of Dudley now owned and managed by Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council (DMBC), who operate the Hall as a popular tourist attraction, wedding and conference venue. The kitchen garden is not listed in its own right but falls within the curtilage of the Himley Hall boundary. The Hall is Grade II* (List Entry 1230781) and the park is a Grade II Registered Park and Garden (List Entry 1001270) with two entrances, one containing a lodge and gates that are Grade II (within the subject area of this study brief, List Entry 1230778: “Frant Lodge and attached walls, railings and gate”), and a second comprising a pair of lodges and attached gates that are Grade II (List Entry 1230780). The site lies within Himley Conservation Area. The “Frant Lodge” has a recent extension to the rear, constructed to enable a sub-division into four apartments, two of which are tenanted at the present time. Although the extension is not part of the original structure, it should nevertheless be taken into account by the study. The kitchen garden was originally divided into four quadrants, with an east yard that contained numerous glasshouses, some of which still survive though in ruinous condition. The layout enclosed central paths, lined with fruit trees, proportioned beds, wall-trained apple, pear and plum trees, and an orchard on the east side of the garden, which have all disappeared. Unfortunately, a previous use of the site as a model village and miniature railway has obscured its original plan. The model village and railway closed in 1996 and the 'miniature' conifers, planted to landscape the site at the time the model was created, have grown into mature specimens. Any survival of remains of its original form should be tested archaeologically as part of this study, ideally as an element of community involvement. DMBC officers have indicated a willingness to provide a long-term lease of the kitchen garden, east yard and associated historic structures, lodge, entrance gates and the area of land to the south of the kitchen garden between the walls and the road to WMHBT in conjunction with a proposal from the World Owl Trust, who have expressed an interest in transferring their owl conservation programme to the site. Under that arrangement, the World Owl Trust would wish to have a sub- lease of the space within the walls of the kitchen garden. On-going care of the walls would remain the responsibility of WMHBT and maintenance work would need to be carefully managed to avoid any impact on the owls. The World Owl Trust has been granted planning permission and listed building consent for a proposed scheme within the confines of the kitchen garden. Details can be viewed on the South Staffordshire Council planning portal (reference 15/00826/FUL and 15/00832/LBC). Please note that the planning application materials are copyright and may be subject to a release fee should the successful tenderer wish to use that information. In particular, tenderers might find useful a West Midlands Historic Buildings Trust Page 3 of 17 August 2016 Himley Hall Kitchen Garden, East Yard and Lodge Tender brief Heritage Assessment Statement written by David Burton-Pye MBE, who can be contacted direct (email: [email protected]; tel: 01902 743950 or mobile 07791 058351) should tenderers wish to discuss including him in their consultancy team or agreeing a release fee to use information contained in his report. Any such costs should be included in your tender price. b. West Midlands Historic Buildings Trust West Midlands Historic Buildings Trust (WMHBT) is a registered charity, with specialists in the field of building conservation giving their time on a voluntary basis to serve as Trustees and general operating funds coming from membership subscriptions. WMHBT's purpose is to safeguard buildings within the West Midlands that are of historical, architectural or constructional importance. Where this cannot be achieved by simply raising awareness to the issues, WMHBT will consider carrying out conservation