In July 2020 government announced that under the Towns Fund programme they were offering Hereford a grant of £750,000 to fund capital projects that can be delivered this financial year. The increased grant will be used to support this capital expenditure. Improvements to the public realm / street-scape were highlighted in the business case as a potential area of expenditure for Maylord Shopping Centre.

A process of identification of trees and planters has been undertaken for the Hereford City Centre Improvements (HCCI) project, which has included consultation with key stakeholders on planters and tree species. BBLP have been commissioned under the HCCI project to undertake this works and procure and install the planters. Following the selection of a planter style, Balfour Beatty Living Places sought three quotations for supply of the planters. The addition of a further four planters for the Maylord Shopping Centre project through the existing BBLP commission enables value for money for this additional expenditure to be achieved through the use of the existing work undertaken to date on HCCI.

A supplier has been selected on the basis of their ability to deliver the majority of the planters (including all of those allocated for the Maylord Shopping Centre) by the end of March 2021, their payment terms and on the basis their price was lower than the other compliant quotations.

The related officer decision can be viewed here:

http://councillors.herefordshire.gov.uk/ieDecisionDetails.aspx?ID=7682