WCC - Rugby Parkway Station Investor/Developer Partner Market Engagement

Description

Warwickshire County Council (the "Council") is seeking to understand the market appetite for financing a portfolio of new railway stations, starting specifically with Rugby Parkway, a proposed new railway station on the eastern edge of Rugby. The Council understands there are multiple local authorities looking at new stations as a means of unlocking social and economic benefits. The Rugby Parkway scheme has progressed to a relatively advanced stage (with all land acquired, outline planning consent granted, outline design accepted by Network Rail and Network Change now complete) and is at the point at which it can be taken forward into delivery by a private investor/developer. A private investor/developer partner would be expected to fund, deliver, and maintain the new station under a long-term concession (c. 30 years), using a mix of investor capital and commercial bank debt. The Council understands there will be certain risks that will need to be shared in order to obtain the optimum financing structure. This market engagement seeks to test the appetite of infrastructure investors, developers, contractors, and lenders to participate in such an opportunity, and to inform the Council's internal decision-making on the most appropriate commercial and procurement approach.