Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council Prepares to Launch £20m Highways Framework

Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council has issued a pipeline notice outlining plans for a potential £20 million highways improvement framework that could deliver a wide range of civil engineering and highway construction projects across north east Greater Manchester.

The proposed arrangement, known as the Active Oldham Strategic Partnership Agreement, is intended to provide a long-term delivery vehicle for highway improvement schemes procured under the NEC4 Engineering and Construction Contract framework.

According to the pipeline notice, the framework is expected to commence in April 2027 and run until March 2031, with the option to extend the agreement for a further four years until March 2035. The council has estimated the total framework value at £20 million excluding VAT, rising to approximately £24 million including VAT.

At this stage, the opportunity remains in the preliminary pipeline phase and is subject to internal approvals and governance processes. Oldham Council has emphasised that no formal procurement exercise has been launched and contractors are not required to take any action at present.

The authority also noted that the final procurement strategy has yet to be determined and may be revised before a formal tender notice is issued. While the framework is primarily expected to support future highways and civil engineering works, it could also include associated goods and services where required to support project delivery.

The pipeline notice highlights the framework’s potential to create opportunities for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), providing regional contractors, specialist suppliers and supply chain partners with access to forthcoming infrastructure investment across the borough and wider area.

A formal tender notice is currently anticipated to be published on 1 July, providing further detail on the scope, procurement route and participation requirements.

The planned framework reflects continued investment in local transport infrastructure and could play a key role in delivering future highway improvements, network enhancements and associated civil engineering projects throughout Greater Manchester.