Movement and Place Plan York 2026
Commission Brief
City of York Council is seeking to appoint a qualified consultancy to develop a Movement and Place Plan for York. The commission will address how transport can be reshaped city-wide to significantly reduce through traffic, while identifying priority areas for major new development and public realm investment. The plan aims to maximise the benefits of place-based development across the city.
The commission sits at the core of urban design and transport planning practice, directly shaping how one of the UK’s most historically significant cities will develop physically and functionally over the coming decades. York is a UNESCO World Heritage city, and any movement and place strategy carries significant implications for its built environment and architectural character.
Intent
The commission will consider priority areas for major new development and public realm investment alongside a city-wide transport strategy that reduces through traffic and enables place-based development to be maximised. The outcomes will directly influence investment planning, infrastructure decisions, and the physical transformation of York’s streets and public spaces.
Purpose
The project is structured across two phases. Phase 1 has confirmed funding and will proceed immediately upon contract award. Phase 2 is subject to further funding being awarded to the client at a later date and carries no guarantee of proceeding. Full scope details for both phases are contained within the Open ITT Volume 2 Specification document available through the council’s procurement portal.
Requirements
The commission is open to suitably qualified organisations under an open procurement procedure governed by the UK Procurement Act 2023. Submissions are evaluated across six criteria covering price, resourcing, existing intelligence, communication, programme, and social value. Tender documents are available via the City of York Council procurement portal at uk.eu-supply.com.
Evaluation Criteria
| Criterion | Type | Weighting |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Price | 40% |
| Resourcing | Quality | 15% |
| Existing Intelligence | Quality | 15% |
| Communication | Quality | 10% |
| Programme | Quality | 10% |
| Social Value | Quality | 10% |
Contract Value
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Estimated Value (excluding VAT) | £1,150,000 |
| Estimated Value (including VAT) | £2,230,000 |
| Contract Type | Open procedure, above threshold |
| Phase 1 Funding | Confirmed |
| Phase 2 Funding | Subject to future confirmation |
Key Dates
| Milestone | Date |
|---|---|
| Notice published | 9 March 2026 |
| Submission deadline | 8 May 2026, 12:00pm |
| Contract start (estimated) | 24 June 2026 |
| Contract end (estimated) | 31 July 2028 |
| Total duration | 2 years, 1 month |
✦ ArchUp Competition Review
This is a substantial public sector commission issued by the City of York Council under the UK Procurement Act 2023, with a combined estimated value of up to £2.23 million including VAT. The organiser is a transparent and accountable local authority with a clearly defined brief and published evaluation criteria. The weighting of quality at 60% against price at 40% signals that the council prioritises rigour and expertise. The inclusion of social value as a scored criterion reflects a genuine commitment to outcomes beyond technical delivery. The two-phase structure is a significant caveat: Phase 2 funding is unconfirmed, meaning the full scope may not materialise. For practices specialising in urban design, transport planning, and sustainable urban development, this is a high-value and strategically meaningful opportunity in one of the UK’s most architecturally sensitive cities.
Final Thoughts
The York Movement and Place commission offers serious urban planning and transport consultancies the chance to shape the long-term physical future of a World Heritage city. The confirmed Phase 1 scope, transparent evaluation criteria, and significant contract value make this one of the more compelling urban design commissions currently open in the UK, despite the uncertainty surrounding Phase 2 funding.
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