Council continues to embark on a range of initiatives to enhance the city’s economic and social vibrancy, including prioritising the economic health and vitality of the central city.

Investment in civic and community facilities is often a critical part of stimulating economic activity and urban renewal, as seen across other communities both nationally and internationally. As a result, Council’s Long Term Plan (2024 to 2034) includes civic investment projects as part of the strategy to enhance the city centre.

In August 2024, Council approved an Indicative Business Case, setting out the investment needed to develop or lease a new Council Library, Community Hub and Civic Centre. This follows the early release of the Indicative Business Case for public feedback at the City Revitalisation Summit in March 2024.

A new facility will replace the current Elma Turner Library and potentially the existing Civic House building and provide a new community hub, with a new single site integrated solution. Elma Turner Library is nearing end-of-life and Civic House requires substantial reinvestment to make it fit for purpose.

Council now invites responses from the market to help inform the next phase of investigation, planning and approval, leading to a preferred solution being identified and a Detailed Business Case being considered by Council.

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Indicative business case

The Indicative Business Case (IBC)* completed in late 2023 sets out the strategic context for investment in a new Library, Community Hub and Civic Centre, along with Council’s forecast requirements, the full range of potential options, indicative costs, potential pathways for procurement and delivery, and how the project could be successfully delivered. The IBC, together with supplementary advice to consider a redevelopment of Civic House, was approved by Council in August 2024.

*A copy of the IBC can be downloaded from the supporting documents bar on the right.


Shortlisted options

Based on the approved recommendations from the IBC, Council is seeking to further explore three options through this REOI* and market engagement, and through further investigation being commissioned concurrently.

Option 1: Land for purchase by Council (for a Council-owned Building).

This option involves Council acquiring a suitable site and leading the development of a new Library, Community Hub and Civic Centre, for long term occupation and ownership.

For the purpose of the REOI, Council is seeking responses from the market for suitable sites that could meet the requirements set out Section 4.0.

Option 2: A designed, built and delivered building (for a building to be leased by Council).

This option involves Council entering into a long term lease for a new Library, Community Hub and Civic Centre, designed, built and delivered by another party on agreed commercial terms.

For the purpose of the REOI, Council is seeking responses from the market from potential parties with suitable land, funding, capability and experience to provide a solution of this scale, that could meet the requirements set out in Section 4.0

Option 3: Civic House Redevelopment (continued to be owned by Council but not part of this REOI).

In parallel with this REOI, Council is exploring options for how Civic House could be refurbished and extended to accommodate the needs of the Library, Community Hub and Civic Centre. Council is not seeking responses from the market for this option, however, this concept will be evaluated alongside Options 1 and 2 to determine the preferred option to move forward with.

*The REOI document can be downloaded from the document mention on the right.


Potential divestment of Civic House

In the event Council progressed either Option 1 or Option 2, Civic House may no longer be required in the future.

While no decisions have been taken, and Council would need to consider a range of matters, including meeting legal requirements, before it could formally declare this property surplus and consider divestment, we are concurrently seeking interest from the market in purchasing Civic House at some point in the future, should it become surplus.

Even if Civic House proves not suitable for an integrated Library, Community Hub and Civic Centre, the ongoing activation and commercial or alternative use of this building and site is a key part of our city centre revitalisation strategy. As a result, Council is interested in understanding what the future of this building could look like to help inform its future planning and decisions.

For the purpose of the REOI, Council is seeking responses from the market from parties interested in acquiring this property, should it be declared surplus by Council at some point in the future, that could meet the requirements set out Section 5.0, either:

  • With vacant possession if and when Council established a new Library, Community Hub and Civic Centre at a new location; or
  • With a short-medium term lease back (circa 5 years) to Council in place, pending the eventual establishment of a new Library, Community Hub and Civic Centre at a new location.
    • REOI Process Overview

    Respondents are invited to respond to either one or more of the opportunities set out in this REOI:

  • Option 1: Land for purchase by Council
  • Option 2: A designed, built and delivered building for lease by Council
  • Civic House Divestment: Purchase of Civic House with vacant possession or with a short-term lease

    • from Council

    In responding to this REOI, respondents are acknowledging that if shortlisted, they may be invited to participate in a further process including potentially a Request for Proposals (RFP).

    Phase 1 – Request for expressions of interest (current phase)

    • Interested parties (Respondents) respond to this REOI and provide the information requested
    • Council will consider EOIs and information about the respondents provided. Nelson City Council may then select a small number of parties (Shortlisted Parties) for progression to the next phase: Phase 2, Request for Proposals
    • Factors that will be relevant to the shortlisting of an EOI respondent are those described in Appendix 4 Form of Response against the evaluation criteria (see document)
    • Council also reserves the right to negotiate with a preferred partner from the EOI process without the need to proceed through an RFP process.

    Phase 2 – Request for proposal (RFP)

    • Depending on the nature and quality of the expressions of interest received, Council may invite Shortlisted Parties to submit more detailed proposals, including commercial terms and more fully developed concepts and specifications (if applicable) in a second phase.
    • The Council may also invite persons that are not Shortlisted Parties to submit a Proposal in the RFP process.
    • The Council may, if it considers it appropriate, require Shortlisted Parties to sign a confidentiality deed before issuing them with a Request for Proposals. Council may select a preferred partner out of the RFP process.
    • The Council may enter into negotiations with the preferred party to finalise the proposal and negotiate the required documentation to implement a particular option.