The facts
Client: Western
Region Development Council (WRDC)
Location: Abu Dhabi
Services: Project and
programme advisory services
Sector: Mixed use
Start
/ Completion: 2010
- ongoing
The project
Capita Symonds has been appointed
through Western Region Development Council (WRDC) to
assist the Government of Abu Dhabi implementing its Al Gharbia 2030
programme.
This 20 year strategy will see the
expansion of Al Gharbia's seven major settlements in the region
(the 'Seven Cities' of Madinat Zayed, Mirfa, Ghayathi, Liwa,
Ruwais, Sila'a, and Delma) and upgrades and development of new
facilities in the areas of education, healthcare, housing, retail,
leisure and infrastructure.
Our engagement required the
full-time co-location of senior programme management and real
estate advisory resources in the WRDC headquarters, and Capita
Symonds is part of the programme taskforce which includes
WRDC, Western Region Municipality (WRM) and the Urban Planning
Council (UPC) of Abu Dhabi.
The role includes economic and market
analysis, successful implementation of sustainable developments,
residential, industrial, and commercial as well as recreational and
the associated infrastructure. Key projects include:
- Planning and procurement of Liwa Administration Centre (WRDC
and WRM headquarters and Mixed-use Development) adopting a PPP type
strategy
- Madinat Zayed Rest House – feasibility, appraisal, planning and
development of Madinat Zayed 4* Hotel
- Madinat Zayed Gateway – feasibility, development appraisal,
masterplanning and urban regeneration of Gateway area of Madinat
Zayed, including approximately 3sqkm of mixed-use, residential,
commercial and schools
- Programme management of major developments (residential
housing, government infrastructure and commercial and industrial
zones) throughout Al Gharbia (Western Region of Abu
Dhabi).
Mixed Use 'Ready to Go Investment Packages' for WRDC
WRDC, working together with the UPC and WRM, aims to develop and
promote Al Gharbia by attracting investment to the area, to enable
economic growth and improve the quality of life for its residents.
WRDC proposed an innovative new approach to stimulate investment in
the region by offering 'Ready to Go' investment packages to
developer / investors for development sites with pre-approved
development guidelines and site infrastructure in place. WRDC
appointed Capita Symonds to work with them to develop this
innovative concept further.
Following our original appointment to prepare a business model
and delivery strategy for selected sites in each of the seven
cities in Al Gharbi, we were subsequently appointed to support WRDC
for further stages of the initiative as described below:
Business Model and Delivery Strategy
Our approach developing the 'Ready to Go' concept involved close
collaboration with WRDC, UPC and WRM, regular meetings to review
emerging options, site visits and discussions with local
stakeholders and potential end-users, co-ordination of concept
design work undertaken by Hyder Consulting, presentations to
prospective developers and investors and workshops with WRDC and
their legal advisors to inform the business model and proposed form
of development / lease agreement. Our work included the preparation
of:
- A market study and site analysis of each site
- Feasibility studies and financial appraisals to test the
viability of each development site.
- A benchmarking and best practice study of private /
public sector partnership models to support wider socio-economic
and community benefits
- A recommended Business Model to attract investment and
participation from key stakeholders, developers, entrepreneurs,
local businesses, and to provide income for special
needs.
- A strategy to identify potential end-user with an
interest in letting space
- A proposed developer/investor delivery and procurement
strategy.
- A Development Brief for the overall project and each
site
Expressions of Interest
Following Capita Symonds successful concept development work for
7 'Ready to Go' sites and approval of the proposed business model
and delivery strategy by WRDC, UPC and WRM we were commissioned to
undertake further work to obtain formal Expression of Interest from
potential developer and investor partners. This included:-
- undertaking further detailed market research to
demonstrate the potential demand and opportunity which each site
presented to potential developer partners
- developing a robust procurement strategy to ensure a
transparent and competitive approach to the selection of a
preferred developer partners
- identification of 22 potential local lead developer
partners and shortlisting 12 based agreed criteria to be invited to
express interest
- preparation of Expression of Interest documentation,
briefing meetings with those shortlisted and confirmation of those
wishing to respond to a request for proposals
Procurement of Developer Partner
Capita Symonds was recently appointed by WRDC
to manage the procurement of a development partner to delivery
mixed use development projects on the Ready to Go site in 7 cities
within Al Gharbia. Working together with WRDC, UPC and WRM our work
has includes:-
- preparation of the Invitation to Partner (ITP) and
responding to clarification request and arranging formal
clarification meetings during the bid process
- review and evaluation of separate technical and financial
submission in line with agreed criteria
- final clarification and negotiations with preferred
bidder(s) to agree final terms and conditions of the development
agreement
We have now completed the technical evaluation
and are currently arranging final clarification and negotiation
meeting.