A CONTRACT to build four new council flats in the centre of Brighton is close to being awarded.

The decision follows a delay of more than a year because Brighton and Hove City Council struggled to find a contractor to build the flats in Frederick Street, Brighton.

The council advertised the work but there was “a lack of interest” and only one firm submitted a tender, with an estimate that was deemed to be too expensive.

Officials were also concerned that the tender did not contain enough detail to demonstrate that the contractor was capable of carrying out such a complex job.

The site is an “infill” plot on a modest-sized former car park a few yards along Frederick Street and across the road from the Three Jolly Butchers pub.

After a frustrating result from the first “open tender” process, council officials tried a different way to find a building contractor.

They now want councillors to give their backing to the change of approach which involved a “mini competition” among trusted suppliers using an online procurement platform.

If councillors agree, senior officers will aim to finalise the award of the contract promptly with an unnamed firm – again, the only bidder for the work.

Housing chiefs hope that their preferred contractor will be on site by late summer to start work on the £1.4 million scheme.

The council had expected to be welcoming the first tenants to their new homes next month before the timetable slipped.

The scheme was granted planning permission in April 2020 – and a report to the council’s housing committee said: “The open tender process was unsuccessful, partly due to the lack of interest in a small, complex infill site at a time when contractors are in demand and can be selective.

“The site was also tendered during a period of economic uncertainty resulting in some contractors feeling unable to deliver the project.

“Officials reported some other open tenders were struggling to gain traction within the contractor market.”

The report to the housing committee added: “The project remains within budget and construction works can start this year.”

Two of the four flats will be studio flats while the other two will have two bedrooms each.

In 2019, councillors said that they wanted the two-bed flats to be rented out at “local housing allowance” rates – or just over £200 a week.

And they wanted the one-bed flats to be let for a “living rent” which would mean rent levels of just over £100 a week.

The housing committee is being asked to back the revised approach to procuring a building contractor so that officials can award a contract to the unnamed firm.

The committee is due to meet at Hove Town Hall at 4pm on Wednesay. The meeting is scheduled to be webcast on the council’s website.