Prospectus for provision of café facility at Priory Country Park, Bedford August 2012
1. Introduction We are seeking expressions of interest in a contract to provide a café facility within Priory Country Park, on the eastern edge of Bedford. Fig 1: Priory Country Park location map
2. Priory Country Park Priory Country Park is an established and attractive area of publicly accessible lakes and parkland on the banks of the River Great Ouse close to Bedford town centre. Fig 3: Aerial map showing Priory Country Park boundary and visitor centre Fig 2: Priory Country Park shown in relation to town centre and Priory Business Park The Park is managed both for public enjoyment and for woodland, wetland and grassland wildlife interest; and has secured the Green Flag national park award for the quality of its management in each of the past 10 years. Covering 225 hectares, this award winning Park already accommodates a range of visitor attractions including: Priory Marina Priory Beefeater Restaurant Premier Inn Hotel National Cycle Network: Bedford-Willington link Priory Water Sports Centre Priory Marina Cycles Cardington Slalom Course World of Bushcraft Coarse fishery Visitor centre These, coupled with the site s extensive network of river and lakeside paths, 180 space car park, adventure play area, picnic sites and kick about/ kite flying area, makes Priory Country Park one of Bedford s top visitor destinations, attracting an estimated 400,000 visits each year. The Park is well placed for easy walking and cycle access to the town centre, river corridor and Willington. It is also key destination site in the emerging Bedford Green Wheel off-road cycling/ walking network. The park is also the main gateway for visitors to the new and emerging Bedford River Valley Park (BRVP) - an 868 hectare regional park being developed to the east of Bedford - www.bedfordrivervalleypark.org/ During weekdays, the Park is also used by staff from the adjoining Priory Business Park, as a commute cut through on foot or bike and as a place for a lunchtime stroll.
3. Visitor offer Over the years, we have received numerous requests for a café facility at the Park and now see it as a development priority in order to meet this need and expand the site s visitor offer. The location of the existing visitor centre, with its views over Priory Lake and proximity to the existing public car parking facility and toilets, makes it a prime opportunity for the proposed café facility. As well providing the café facility, we re also committed to upgrading the existing visitor centre s public information and interpretation material. Through these related developments, we aim to increase the numbers and satisfaction of visitors to the Park, in terms of both repeat visits and also new groups of user. As part of our commitment to securing investment in the Park, we ve recently completed a number of energy saving measures within the existing visitor centre building including: Low energy lighting Triple glazed windows and doors Loft insulation Cavity wall insulation Natural daylight system to increase natural lighting levels Solar photovoltaic system to generate electricity Rainwater harvesting system to flush the public toilets. Collectively, these measures will reduce the centre s energy and water consumption, carbon emissions and utility bills. By installing these measures the visitors centre now acts as a renewable technologies demonstration centre where the public can view in situ the types and scale of equipment that could be installed in a domestic situation. Fig 4: People enjoying Priory Country Park main lake
4. Café facility We are seeking expressions of interest from businesses who are interested in providing an appropriate café facility for the Park through any of the following options: Option 1: Mobile unit either from converted vehicle or trailer unit to be sited in vicinity of existing visitor centre/ car park. Option 2: Conversion of existing visitor centre space - conversion of c50 square metres of internal floor space within our existing visitor centre to accommodate the entire café operation, including a kitchen, servery and indoor/ outdoor seating areas. Option 3: Extension to existing visitor centre this would require the design and construction of new built extension to the visitor centre overlooking the lake to accommodate the entire café operation, including kitchen, servery and indoor/ outdoor seating areas. Option 4: New, free standing building as for option 3 above but based on design and construction of free standing building in the vicinity of the visitor centre We are prepared to make the necessary land/ floor space available to accommodate any of the above options but are not in a position ourselves to make any associated capital investment in the facility. The contract period and terms are subject to negotiation, based on the type and scale of the proposed café facility investment. Although the visitor centre is already served by a gents, ladies and disabled public toilet, these facilities are considered to require additional capital investment to bring them up to the necessary standard to service a café. The location and design of any building works and ancillary facilities associated with the above options will need to be agreed with us and comply with Planning and Building Regulations as required. Due to a restrictive clause in some of our existing commercial agreements, the café would be unable to sell alcohol, ice creams or confectionary other than for special events (ie. festivals) and club members of the Priory Water Sports. Fig 5: People outside Priory Country Park visitor centre
5. Next steps If you re interested in being considered for inclusion on the invitation to tender list for the provision of the café facility based on any of the proposed delivery options, please complete and return our Expression of Interest form, which is attached with this document. The deadline for submission of completed expression of interest forms is: 12:00 noon on Friday, 28 September, 2012. All submissions will be assessed and a shortlist agreed to go forward to the Invitation to Tender stage. For further details on Priory Country Park, please visit: www.priorycountrypark.co.uk Should you have any queries, please call us on 01234 718322; or email: joel.carre@bedford.gov.uk Fig 6: Cyclists on grass area between visitor centre and main lake