FOR THE APPOINTMENT OF A PRINCIPAL CONTRACTOR FOR THE REPAIRS WORKS TO THE STILL HOUSE AND BETSY GRIMBAL’S TOWER, TAVISTOCK, WHICH FORMS PART OF THE ‘REDISCOVERING TAVISTOCK ABBEY PROJECT’
Summary
Tavistock Town Council as Client and Accountable Body invites tenders from a Principal Contractor with the relevant skills and capability in heritage and conservation projects to take the lead role for the grant funded repair, refurbishment and new public access, lighting and signage enhancement of Betsy Grimbal’s Tower (Grade 1 (No.1326209)) and Still House (Grade 2 (No.1105870)) buildings located on Plymouth Road in the town centre.
Provided on Tavistock Town Council website to assist with the submission are drawings showing elevations and work details, pre-construction Information, details of preliminaries, schedule of works and archaeology reports.
The estimated budget allowance for this project for the Principal Contractor’s fees is between £325,000 to £375,000 plus VAT.
With contract administration being managed by Le Page Architects, the project will also include working alongside Structural Engineers (estimated £3,700), Archaeologist (estimated £10,000) and Ecologist (estimated £5,000).
The Principal Contractor’s roles and responsibilities are to undertake the capital grant funded fabric works which will be executed JCT Building Contract as well as liaison with the other appointed professional consultants listed above. During the construction phase on Betsy Grimbal’s Tower there will also be two skills day workshops and an archaeological dig project co-ordinated by Tavistock Heritage Trust.
The anticipated start date for capital works is the end of June 2026, with a completion date of mid-November 2026.
When submitting your tender, you must provide the following:
- The Schedule of Works FULLY priced with each line item having a cost set against it – see J26.014 TTC Abbey Schedule of Works 15.04.26 Tender Issue Rev B
- Full programme proposals for the project
- Full CDM answers to the attached Pre Construction Information.
Overview
This contract forms part of the Rediscovering Abbey Remains Project. The objectives are wide and diverse; part of which is to ensure the continuous repair and care of the Tavistock Abbey remains. Further elements of the project include extensive archaeological investigations, research into the abbey and its life and power and the creation of AV interpretation of the finds and research. This will ensure long term interest both from the local community and visitors, and provide knowledge of the abbey, which until now has been rather piecemeal, and will aim to create an educational resource for schools and research.
The capital works relating to the repairs will be managed by the Tavistock Town Council who own the two substantial abbey remains. The Town Council are in partnership with the Tavistock Heritage Trust who will be managing the remaining elements of the project relating to research and interpretation.
Tavistock Abbey is a Scheduled Monument SAM 1020401. Betsy Grimbal’s Towers is Listed Grade I and is on the At Risk Register, category C (slow decay; no solution agreed). The building borders Plymouth Road, the entrance to the Bedford Hotel carpark and the Tavistock Vicarage parking area. The Stillhouse is Listed Grade II located within the curtilage of the garden of the Bedford Hotel and Tavistock Vicarage garden and borders the abbey’s precinct wall abutting the River Tavy. Both buildings are in the ownership of the Tavistock Town Council. Information about the Tavistock Town Council is available on www.tavistock.gov.uk, and the Tavistock Heritage Trust on www.heritageintavistock.org.
Submission requirements
Applicants should note that submissions should be made by post and must be received no later than the stated deadline. It is the tenderers responsibility to ensure that their tenders arrive at the office address and by this date and time. Tavistock Town Council does not undertake to consider late tenders.
If you are interested in tendering for this project please return your tender in writing in a sealed envelope by no later than midday 29th May 2026 marked:
CONFIDENTIAL – REDISCOVERING TAVISTOCK ABBEY PROJECT: CAPITAL to:
The Proper Officer,
Tavistock Town Council,
Town Council Offices, Drake Road,
TAVISTOCK, Devon, PL19 0AU.
For tender enquiries please contact Wayne Southall on 01822 616134 or via email [email protected]
For technical enquiries please contact Simon Crosbie on 01752 849880 or via email [email protected]
For site access please contact Becky Rowe on 01822 616134 or via email [email protected]
Note – prospective tenderers are prohibited from contacting staff or councillors to canvass or encourage support for their tender outside of the prescribed process.
The tenders will be assessed 60% price, 40% technical return.
The submission should include a detailed financial breakdown as included within the schedule of works.
The technical return should include an outline methodology for delivering the project scope, draft project programme, key points for the pre-tender construction phase plan, appropriate level of insurance cover including contractor all risk, schedule of stage payments, QA documentation relating to key personal and comms arrangements, two suitable references and evidence of experience in delivering three conservation projects of a similar scope/size.
https://www.tavistock.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Form-of-tender.docx
https://www.tavistock.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/ACD1544-Tavistock-Abbey-HBR-report.pdf
Information can also be found on https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/