The council has gone back to the market with refreshed procurement plans in the face of volatile market costs.

Council procurement chiefs had originally planned to select a contractor in July but went back to the drawing board to reconsider project risk.

Tenders are now being invited for the new procurement plan which includes a simplified approach to early contractor involvement and amendments to allow for rising construction costs.

Under this new timetable, prequalification documents will need to be submitted by 4 August with shortlisted firms invited to bid in October.

A winning early involvement contractor will now be named in February 2023, for a stage 2 project start now set for November 2024. Project completion is due in April 2027.

Interested firms should click here.