How to win: Refurbishment of the Town Pump, Cornhill, Dorchester

About this contract

Dorchester Town Council is seeking a suitably qualified and experienced contractor to undertake the sensitive conservation-led refurbishment of the Grade II listed Town Pump located on Cornhill, Dorchester. The works comprise the careful dismantling and removal of the existing base (stone and concrete), reconstruction of the plinth using Portland Stone, temporary lifting and resetting of the stone column to correct a 50mm westward lean, cleaning / repair / conservation of existing stonework using traditional techniques, installation of a new drinking-water spout incorporating a lion-head mask based upon and eighteenth-century design, formation of a discreet drainage detail at the base for a dog drinking basin, and installation of a separate Portland Stone drinking bowl. The works will be undertaken in accordance with the approved conservation philosophy and all statutory approvals.

How to win contracts like this

• ✓Answer against the marking scheme, not the question text — Dorchester Town Council scores each response, so map your evidence to the published criteria and weightings.
• ✓At £70,000, expect quality and social value to carry a large share of the score — price alone rarely wins works work.
• ✓Show recent, comparable delivery: name similar works contracts you've delivered for public bodies, with measurable outcomes.
• ✓Start early: it closes 14 August 2026 and a strong bid takes iteration.

BidWriter drafts your responses from your company profile, scores them against the marking scheme, and tracks your whole pipeline. Free to start — no card needed.

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