Little Venice & Paddington Commercial Moorings Tender

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1 Little Venice & Paddington Commercial Moorings Tender Introduction The Canal & River Trust has recently undertaken a consultation on moorings provision in the Paddington area that has indicated a requirement for a permanent trading mooring outside the station entrance. If we receive a high number of quality applications, we may extend this to two trading moorings. In addition, the Trust has two vacancies within the pool of Little Venice for commercial berths. These are very popular destinations and the Trust frequently receives applications from new operators to set up businesses here as well as interest from existing operators to expand or relocate their businesses. Alongside this, there is demand for space from roving traders and visiting leisure boaters that needs to be catered for. This tender process will be the first tender of commercial moorings in this area for many years. We have produced two plans one for Little Venice and the other for Paddington Station, showing the moorings that are open for tender. We are now inviting both existing and new boating businesses to apply for moorings in these two areas. How do I apply for a commercial mooring? You need to complete and submit an Operating Proposal. You must complete all parts of the proposal and be absolutely specific about: 1. the use you want to make of the mooring 2. the place where you would like to moor 3. the length of the mooring you require (in metres) (If you are happy to accept any of the different mooring locations available, please state this clearly). You also need to submit a price that you are willing to pay for the mooring(s) that you require. This should be in the form of X per metre or part thereof per annum. There is a reserve price on these moorings of 350 per metre per annum excluding VAT, so you should not offer less than that. Price will not be the single determining factor, but it will play a part. The Trust has an obligation to ensure that it gets best value from its assets to generate revenue for its charitable works. If you wish you can express your offer as a price per metre (which should still be no lower than 350 per metre) plus a percentage of your turnover. A link to the proposal form is at the end of this document. Page 1

2 How will the applications be assessed? We will appoint a panel to review of all of the applications. We will score each application according to its ability to: Bring variety and activity to the water-based offer Deliver income to the Trust Deliver public benefit We will also consider: Environmental impacts (water quality, water resource, noise, light) Adverse social impacts (noise, light, anti-social behaviour) Customer history (if relevant) (e.g. compliance with regulations, timely payment of bills) Credit checks Presentation is the boat clean and tidy and in good condition? What does it look like? Customer service what demonstrable experience do you have in this area? Health & Safety and risk management Planning Permission It is anticipated that the commercial uses of these moorings will require the successful applicant to obtain planning permission. Uses that only involve the hiring of boats or the carrying of passengers generally do not require planning permission but any associated physical development may. Applicants should therefore be prepared for having to obtain planning permission at their cost when making their submitting their proposal. There is more on planning in the following sections. Who will be on the assessment panel? The assessment panel will comprise officers of Canal & River Trust together with a representative from the local Waterway Partnership. Other interested parties will have an opportunity to comment on the selected applications once they progress to the formal planning application stage. What s the timetable? Tender process launched Tue 26 August Applications close Fri 3 October (6 wks) Assessment Fri 24 October (3 wks) Successful applicants published Fri 31 October Page 2

3 What happens then? Successful applicants will be given 16 weeks from 3 November in which to secure planning permission from the local planning authority for their chosen activity (if applicable). We will meet with the local planning authority prior to the assessment phase to apprise them of this project. The views of the local authority will be shared with all members of the assessment panel as part of this process. The successful applicant must gain the approval of CRT to its planning application prior to submission. If the selected applicant is unable to secure permission, the applicant will have the opportunity to discuss and agree with CRT if an appeal is appropriate. If the applicant withdraws, the opportunity will pass to a reserve identified at the assessment phase. If, at the end of the 16 week period no planning application has been made, and there is no legitimate reason for a delay, then the applicant will lose their right to the mooring and be removed from the process and the reserve applicant will be allocated the mooring opportunity. The reserve applicant will then have 16 weeks in which to secure planning permission for their chosen use. It is recognised that if there is a reasonable delay in this planning process (perhaps the planning authority has not been able to complete its usual process within expected timescales or a need for a specific report has been identified) then the Trust will have the discretion to extend the time available. During the periods when planning applications are being made and considered the boat intended for use (or one very similar in appearance), may be placed on the mooring in order that photographs and/or site visits to support the planning application may be taken. Trading will not be permitted until planning consent has been gained. It is the responsibility of the applicant to complete the planning application, to provide specialist reports as required and to pay all necessary fees and costs associated with the application. Applicants must note that if they need to provide any services to their moorings (e.g. water, electricity etc.) or to provide any fixed structures to support their business that these need to be included in the planning application. (All works also require the consent of CRT and there is a charge of VAT for assessing and monitoring works). Which mooring berths are up for tender? Little Venice There are two mooring berths being offered in this location marked bright blue on Plan A. Do not apply for moorings on any area not marked blue as there are no moorings available in those areas. Both of these berths have previously been occupied by trading boats but have been vacant for around five years. We have given short term agreements for the use of these berths in the intervening period. Paddington Station There is one berth available as shown on Plan B, marked in bright blue. As mentioned above, this may be extended to two berths if the quantity and quality of the applications warrants a second berth. Links to both plans can be found at the end of this document. Page 3

4 What services do the moorings come with? If you require mains electricity, sewage, water or any other services or facilities you must take into account that you will need to do all of the work to arrange the provision of such services from utilities providers and pay for all works necessary to bring these services to the mooring. Any works on our land are subject to our approval. There is a fee of VAT for assessing such applications. If you need anything else from us to make your proposal work (such as space to store equipment, a ticket booth, advertising banners on our property) you must make this clear in your proposal and expect to pay an additional fee for these over and above the mooring fee. What term are the moorings being let for? Little Venice You may suggest a term that suits your business proposal, but we anticipate that this will be a minimum of 3 years and a maximum of 10 years. Paddington Station This berth is offered for a fixed term of 3 years. What will the mooring contract be? We have set out an indicative set of Terms and Conditions on which the contract will be based. This is being provided so that you are aware of the main obligations of the parties when you make your submission. The final contract will be based on these but may be changed as a result of negotiations and the nature of the successful submission and will be subject to formal approval of the Trust. There is a link to this at the end of this document. How can I comment on the allocation of moorings if I do not wish to tender? If you have any views, comments or suggestions that you would like Canal & River Trust to take into consideration when allocating commercial berths at either site, please make your comments in writing to the address below. Please remember that as stated earlier some uses will require planning permission and so there will be an opportunity for anyone to comment via the planning process on successful applications that fall into this category following the allocation of the berths. Notes: 1. The decision of the Canal & River Trust over the matter of the letting of its moorings is final. 2. The Canal & River Trust is not obliged to offer any moorings whatsoever under this tender process if it does not deem any of the applications suitable. The following documents can be dowloaded from our website: Plan A Little Venice Plan B Paddington Station Tender Proposal Form Indicative Terms & Conditions Page 4

5 Completed applications and any queries should be made to: Susie Mercer Senior Business Boating Manager Canal & River Trust The Dock Office Gloucester GL1 2EB Tel: Mobile: Page 5