Questions and Answers

Competitors are advised to re-visit the Supporting Documents section of the dedicated Competition web site (http://highstreet.digitalmaidstone.co.uk), since a number of new documents have now been added in response to the questions raised below.

Q1 The 1st bullet point of the submission requirements (under Competition Conditions) states that the Stage 1 design proposal should be submitted on 2 x A3, lightweight foam boards. However, the sentence beneath the 5th bullet point is contradictory, in that it states ‘Architectural models will not be accepted, although images of models used to develop the design proposal may be included on the A1 design boards’. Please confirm whether the design proposals are to be submitted in A3 or A1 format.

A1 The instruction in the latter sentence was a typographic error. The design proposals are to be submitted on 2No. x A3, lightweight foam boards, together with the remainder of the material referred to under the Stage 1 Submission Requirements section.

Q2 Do the foam board sheets have to be flat, or can they have items (such as material samples etc) raised from the main surface of the board?

A2 The foam boards should be flat and not have extraneous material attached to their surface.

Q3 Can the foam board sheets be set up to make one large sheet, for example 2 x A3 sheets makes one A2 sheet?

A3 A single A2 foam board would be an acceptable alternative to 2x A3 sheets. However, all other material must be submitted in the format stated under the Stage 1 Submission Requirements section.

Q4 Can the 2No A4 sheets of text, include images? Can a sensible sized, alternative font be used other than Arial, size 12?

A4 The size and typeface have been stipulated to ensure that the documents are legible, easy to read and to provide a level playing field for competitors. Although this text can include images, the main purpose of this document is to explain the ethos behind the design proposal and provide additional information to support the illustrations presented on the A3 design boards.

Q5 Can the financial viability sheet include images?

A5 Yes, provided the financial viability of the proposal is adequately addressed.

Q6 Are all Competitors required to complete and submit the Pre-Qualification Questionnaire (PQQ) along with their Stage 1 design material?

A6 Yes - a condition of teams being invited to proceed to Stage 2 of the Competition will be that the standard requirements of Maidstone Borough Council (in the areas of finance, insurance, health & safety and environmental sustainability) are capable of being met by the winning designer. This is a standard council document and the information provided by bidders will be assessed in a manner proportional to the objectives and requirements of this project.

Q7 Where is the PQQ?

A7 A copy of the PQQ is available to download from the Supporting Documents section of the dedicated web site (http://highstreet.digitalmaidstone.co.uk/).

Q8 Do strategy documents for a wider vision for Maidstone exist and, if so, is access to these possible?

A8 Yes, Maidstone Borough Council’s Draft Strategic Plan 2009-12, see link http://www.digitalmaidstone.co.uk/your_say/people_matter/strategic_plan_08-11.aspx and The Town Centre Plan and Vision, see link http://www.digitalmaidstone.co.uk/your_say/prosperity/town_centre_vision.aspx. %20A draft Sustainable Community Strategy will be available week commencing the 16th February.

Q9 Is there scope for influence on highway linkages to (outside/around) thecompetition area?

A9 No.

Q10 Do any retail guidelines / retail tenancy policies exist (beyond information in Maidstone Borough Plan)?

A10 No.

Q11 On the traffic flow diagram, what are the red arrows showing?

A11 Direction of traffic flow.

Q12 The Brief mentions the public toilets and the sub-station as potential opportunities though these are not within the red line boundary. Please clarify if adapting the boundary is a possibility?

A12 Whilst Competitors are welcome to suggest alternative possible ideas for the site of the public toilets and sub-station, the successful implementation of the overall design concept should not rely on any such proposals. No further adaptations of the red line boundary will be permitted.

Q13 Can we use the vacant premises on the High Street within our proposal?

A13 No, the competition is for the design of the public space only.

Q14 Can you tell us what 22 High Street will become, i.e. retail, housing etc?

A14 22-27 High Street and 1-9 Pudding Lane has planning permission for mixed use development including the creation of thirty three residential units (twenty private and thirteen affordable), alterations to existing retail units and service bay and a new retail unit to have open A1, A3 and A4 use.

Q15 What is the Police zone used for and can it be moved??

A15 This is a parking space dedicated for police vehicles. It can be moved but any new space should be prominent as part of its purpose is to act as a deterrent against unsociable behavior.

Q16 Can we assume the flooding problem at the lower end of the site will be resolved when designing our proposals?

A16 No

Q17 Do you have or is there available, data for the footfall numbers in the various areas of the High Street?

A17 Yes, this information is now available under Supporting Documents on the Maidstone High Street International Design Competition website http://highstreet.digitalmaidstone.co.uk/

Q18 Could you advise on other road or highway improvement schemes that are to go ahead or are currently being considered?

A18 Kent Highway Services has been investigating the benefits of a potential improvement to the bridge gyratory road network. This would involve the construction of two lanes for the A229 northbound on the eastern side of the River Medway. The scheme would require the modification of an EDF electric sub-station. There is currently concern that the cost of these modifications in relation to the expected benefits of the scheme would be excessive, and further detailed traffic modelling work is being carried out. There is still strong political support for the principle of the scheme from both the County and Borough Councils, so the area affected by the proposal must be protected. Please note a plan is available under Supporting Documents of the Maidstone High Street International Design Competition website, http://highstreet.digitalmaidstone.co.uk/.

Q19 Is there any further data on bus movements, numbers and frequency?

A19 Details of bus movements has been compiled and is now available under Supporting Documents of the Maidstone High Street International Design Competition website http://highstreet.digitalmaidstone.co.uk/.

Q20 Has the additional money for the project yet been secured and is this sum also inclusive of Vat and Fees?

A20 The additional £2m has not yet been secured, and will be inclusive of Fees but not VAT.

Q21 Will non compliant proposals be given consideration?

A21 The only permitted deviation from the red line boundary relates to alternative ideas for the site of the public toilets and sub-station, as per the response to Q12.

Q22 Would you expect Tenderers to include specific public art artists in their design teams to be revealed at Stage 2, or will the Borough be initiating their own system of choice for artists?

A22 The Competition is open to multi-disciplinary design teams and there will be an expectation that short-listed teams will collaborate with public artists etc when developing their design proposals at Stage 2.

Q23 Stage 1 Submission requirements (Page 10 of RIBA Brief Competition Summary)(i) First bullet - please confirm you mean A3 Boards rather than A1 boards since the last sentence in this section refers to A1 design boards?

A23 As per the response to Q1, design proposals should be submitted on 2No. x A3 lightweight foam boards, although a single A2 board would also be acceptable (as per response to Q3).

Q24 "CD-Rom should also contain publicity images (x 3) ...... for use in ...media". Please define what you intend these to be. Are they in addition to the imagery included on the design boards?

A24 Due to the public realm nature of the project and the extent of the High Street, it may not be possible to reproduce design proposals in their entirety in the printed or electronic media. Hence the publicity images need not be exactly the same as those presented on the design boards, but should be representative of the design ideas proposed and be readily identifiable as such.

Q25 Can we assume that there are no current plans for changing the current traffic flow over the bridges at Broadway and Fairmeadow for the foreseeable future?

A25 Please refer to A18.

Q26 Can you clarify if Fees are included in the £4m budget?

A26 As per ‘The Competition, Invitation’ on p1 of the Competition Brief (PDF version available to download under ‘Supporting Documents’ from http://highstreet.digitalmaidstone.co.uk/, the GBP £4m budget is inclusive of all design fees but, please note does not include VAT.

Q27 Does the Council have any survey information regarding pedestrian and vehicle flows for the subject area and any traffic flow accident statistics that could be made available? (Unable to locate traffic flow plan mentioned on page 3)?

A27 Please see responses to Q17 and Q19. A PDF version of the Red line site plan indicating current traffic flow in the High Street area is available to download under ‘Supporting Documents’ from http://highstreet.digitalmaidstone.co.uk/.

Q28 Is there a digitised Ordnance Survey plan of the area?

A28 DWG files are available upon registration - see ‘How to Enter’ by selecting ‘Click here’ on the http://highstreet.digitalmaidstone.co.uk home page. Please

also refer to the PDF version of the Competition Brief available to download under ‘Supporting Documents’.

Q29 Should the entrants appoint an artist or will Maidstone Borough Council appoint one (page 1 of Brief)?

A29 Please see response to Q22.

Q30 The red line does not include the riverside subway exits, the public conveniences, the sub-station or any of the riverside area, yet all are mentioned as potential elements of the scheme. How flexible is the red line (pages 3, 4 and 5)?

A30 Please see response to Q12.

Q31 Publicity images are mentioned - are these promotional images for the entrants or something else (page 10)?

A31 As per the response to Q24, these should relate to the scheme proposal rather promotional images of the entrants.

Q32 To what extent do Maidstone Borough Council think that environmental health issues such as air quality need to be covered; for instance, will the entrants need to provide an assessment of impacts of the scheme or will Maidstone Borough Council's Environmental Health Officer assist (page 3)?

A32 Entrants will not need to provide an assessment of the impacts of the scheme, although MBC officers will consider possible environmental impacts at Stage 2 of the competition and advise the Jury Panel accordingly.

Q33 Is the Maidstone Borough Council's Pre-qualification Questionnaire available before registering for the competition?

A33 As per the response to Q7, a copy of the PQQ is available to download from the Supporting Documents section of the dedicated competition web site (http://highstreet.digitalmaidstone.co.uk/).

Q34 Does the Pre-Qualification have a specific, or is there an implied financial requirement (i.e. Practice turnover)?

A34 No. Maidstone Borough Council is simply ascertaining that the organizations are financially stable and unlikely to encounter liquidity problems over the life of the contract. Also see response to Q6.

Q35 Does the team have to be led by an architect/landscape architect?

A35 Yes, the multi-disciplinary design team must be led by either a practising, registered architect or landscape architect.

Q36 Can an engineer lead the team?

A36 No, this is not thought to be appropriate in this instance since the winning designer will be expected to work with an engineering contractor (to be appointed separately) to develop and deliver the scheme. Please also refer to Eligibility, Honorarium & Post Competition Commitment (see Competition Conditions, p7 of PDF version of Competition Brief).