Rochford District Council is inviting expressions of interest from organisations interested in managing and operating the Main Hall at Freight House, Bradley Way, Rochford, on an interim basis, as part of a phased approach to reopening the site.

The Freight House has been identified in the recently adopted Rochford District Cultural and Visitor Economy Strategy 2025-2030 as a location with significant potential to support local communities and contribute to the wider regeneration of the town.

As an interim measure, the Council is considering the feasibility of a partial reopening of the Freight House and is inviting expressions of interest from organisations interested in managing and operating the Main Hall. The selected organisation will be responsible for delivering a diverse programme of events that enhance the cultural landscape and support the local community, while the Council undertakes a broader review of the site’s long-term future.

The process to identify an interim operator will take place in two stages:

Stage One: Initial Expressions of Interest

Organisations wishing to express interest should provide:

• Contact detail
• A brief overview of their organisation’s mission and objectives
• A proposed approach to managing the Main Hall
• A proposed schedule of events that align with cultural and community needs.

Opening date for Expressions of Interest: Wednesday 12 February 2025

Closing date for Expressions of Interest: Sunday 2 March 2025

Submission details: Interested organisations should email their proposals to assetmanagement@rochford.gov.uk

Site visits: Available upon request by contacting the Council’s Asset Management Team at assetmanagement@rochford.gov.uk or calling 01702 963328.

Stage Two: Formal Expression of Interest

Following a committee decision on 25th March 2025, shortlisted organisations will be invited to formally express their interest. The Council will evaluate submissions using a scoring matrix.

• Opening date for submissions: Wednesday 26 March 2025
• Closing date for submissions: Sunday 30 March 2025

Councillor James Newport, Leader of Rochford District Council and Chair of the Strategy, Finance & Policy Committee, said: “This is a great opportunity for organisations to bring forward their ideas that will support our local community while we assess the site’s long-term potential. We look forward to seeing a diverse range of proposals that reflect the needs and aspirations of our residents.”

The successful operator will be awarded the contract ahead of the site becoming operational by Tuesday 27 May 2025.