Chester Northgate was a flagship regeneration programme, central to reshaping the city centre and attract long term investment.

While the ambition was clear, it was apparent that the available budget did not fully align with what the client wanted to achieve.

For bidders, this created a difficult balance. The submission needed to demonstrate how the scheme could be delivered within financial constraints, while still meeting the wider regeneration aspirations of the council.

The risk was that proposals would fall into one of two positions. Either technically compliant but lacking vision, or aspirational but not credible.

Vision TDM worked closely with VINCI’s bid and preconstruction teams to bring those two elements together. The focus was on presenting a solution that was both deliverable and aligned with the bigger picture for the city.

The defining shift was how the scheme was positioned across phases. Rather than forcing all ambition into Phase 1, the bid clearly demonstrated how value could be prioritised and delivered progressively. This allowed the submission to remain realistic in the short term, while still supporting the long term regeneration vision.

This shift gave the client confidence that the project was not being diluted, but structured in a way that made it achievable.

We ensured this approach was reflected consistently throughout the submission. Cost, programme, delivery strategy and stakeholder considerations were aligned to reinforce both affordability and ambition, making it easier for evaluators to see a clear and credible path forward.

The result was a submission that balanced realism with ambition, giving the client a clear and deliverable path forward.

VINCI secured Phase 1 of the £70 million scheme and, through continued collaboration, was subsequently awarded Phase 2 valued at £60 million.