Dumfries and Galloway Council – WEF Wanlock Water, Wanlockhead and WEF Nith Nature Reserve, Dumfries.

Tender description

Dumfries and Galloway Council – WEF Wanlock Water, Wanlockhead and WEF Nith Nature Reserve, Dumfries. The work is split across two Lots: Lot 1 Wanlock Water (RIBA1); Lot 2 Nith Nature Reserve, Dumfries(RIBA 1&2). Because of the multidisciplinary nature of the work, we would welcome either a single consultancy/ company that has all the skills in house or a consortium that can bring all of the skills required together. However, we appreciate it may be unlikely that a single consultancy has capacity and multiple disciplines. A detailed Description of Services for Lot 1 and 2 is currently being prepared. Lot 1: Wanlock Water Restoration Project- Indicative scope and outputs The Contracting Authority intends to procure a feasibility study focusing on improving water quality and flows along with enhanced biodiversity, industrial heritage awareness and climate resilience for the Wanlock catchement and its communities. The commission is tasked to develop the project brief and test the feasibility of potential interventions, gathering information on constraints, risks, costs and potential delivery routes. The study is expected to be undertaken within the policy and funding context of the Scottish Environment Protection Agency’s (SEPA) Water Environment Fund (WEF), which supports the identification and delivery of measures to improve the ecological status of water bodies. As such, the feasibility work should consider the objectives of the Water Framework Directive (WFD) and identify opportunities for restoration and enhancement that may be eligible for future WEF support. The commission for the Wanlock Water is anticipated to require a minewater pollution reduction and treatment feasibility assessment, based on existing knowledge and characterisation of the problem, along with a scoping and feasibility study of wider opportunities and constraints to define future locations of works. Opportunities may exist to undertake treatment trials and to deliver multiple benefits within the riparian zone and floodplain and on the hill and moor landscape. The commission shall allow the project to complete Stage 1 of the framework of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) Plan of Work.. Scope TBC Review existing data and info - gap analysis. Targeted field surveys/assessments Delivery of opportunities & constraints mapping to assess feasibility. Baseline hydrological assessment of catchment. Outputs: project brief; feasibility report and high level summary; opportunity and constraints mapping; risk register; recommended next steps Lot 2: Lot 2 Nith Nature Reserve - Indicative scope and concept design outputs The commission for the Nith Nature Reserve Project is to complete RIBA stages 1 and 2. This project aims to deliver a riverside nature reserve for people and wildlife by creating an enhanced natural setting for the Nith River. We will deliver significant ecological improvements, enhance the biodiversity and natural habitat and create a multiuse recreational area that is accessible to everyone in the community and provides multi-sensory experiences and educational opportunities. There are opportunities for improvements that would reduce morphological pressure capacity through habitat creation and could benefit flood risk and reduce sediment deposition further downstream. Dumfries and Galloway Council aim to deliver the drivers for biodiversity, climate resilience and better access to blue green infrastructure, access and amenity for local communities. The commission shall allow the project to complete Stage 1 and Stage 2 of the framework of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) Plan of Work.. TBC: Review existing data & gaps Field surveys/assessments Opportunities and constraints mapping to assess feasibility. RIBA Stage 1: project brief, geomorphological assessment, feasibility, constraints/risk register, next steps RIBA stage 2: preferred option report, concept designs informed by geomorphologist and landscape architect, visualisations and arcGIS style storyboard to present