Herefordshire Council Announces £120 Million Framework for Highways and Public Realm Schemes

Herefordshire Council has revealed plans to establish a new procurement framework valued at around £120 million aimed at delivering a wide range of highways and public realm projects across the county.

This new framework will complement the council’s recently awarded £200 million public realm contract, which is set to begin on 1 June 2026 and is expected to run for up to ten years.

Mixed Economy Model and Supply Chain Context

The council intends for the new framework to form part of a mixed economy model, running alongside the existing public realm contract to provide flexibility, increase competition, and encourage innovation within the delivery of infrastructure projects.

Currently, the public realm contract engages a variety of contractors and suppliers covering sectors such as civil engineering, surfacing, street furniture, lighting, and landscaping. However, challenges seen across the construction and highways sectors — including supply chain volatility, material shortages, and labour availability — have led the council to seek a diversified approach.

By introducing a separate framework specifically targeting highways and specialist public realm works, Herefordshire Council aims to strengthen resilience in its supply chain, broaden its pool of capable contractors, and reduce reliance on a single supplier base. This approach also supports local and regional suppliers by creating additional opportunities for smaller and medium-sized enterprises to compete for work.

Scope of the New Framework

At this stage, the council envisions the framework being split into multiple lots, potentially including:

• Civil engineering works such as drainage and earthworks

• Carriageway and footway surfacing, including surface dressing and thin surface treatments

• Maintenance and construction of highway structures (bridges, culverts, retaining walls)

• Traffic signal installation, maintenance, and upgrades

• Tree surveys and arboricultural services, reflecting a growing emphasis on environmental sustainability in highway management

  
  

This comprehensive scope is intended to cover both routine maintenance and larger improvement schemes, allowing the council to respond flexibly to emerging priorities and planned capital works.

Timeline and Engagement Process

The proposed framework is planned to run for four years, from 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2030, overlapping with the start of the public realm contract. This timing will enable coordinated project delivery across different but complementary areas of highways and public realm infrastructure.

Herefordshire Council invites interested contractors and suppliers to engage with the council by 27 October 2025 to contribute to the development of the framework specification and procurement process. Early engagement aims to ensure the framework is well-suited to current market conditions and supplier capabilities.

Further information and details on how to respond are available on the council’s procurement portal.