The building job could be worth up to £40m and has been broken up into packages including council offices, a library and multi-storey car park.

The council is keeping its options open to deliver the three main parts of the design and build job at once or in phases. It hopes to start construction in April 2011.

Interested contractors have until 20 September to return PQQs to Donna Heath at Telford & Wrekin Council. Email: donna.heath@macegroup.com

Presently, the council also has bids out for £3m worth of demolition work involving infilling the existing Southwater lake. And bids are being assessed for multi-utility works in the area.

The development site spans the town park and Telford Shopping Centre, including Southwater lake and ice rink, which must be free from disruption during demolition.

Project breakdown

Lot 1: Civic office Design, procurement, construction, fit-out, commissioning and handover of approximately 8,000 sq m  of office space, 500 sq m of retail space to shell and core and associated external works including the formation of a lake, no later than September 2012. Single stage design and build, with a minimum of five contractors.

Lot 2: Learning centre Design, procurement, construction, fit-out, commissioning and handover of approximately 5,000 sq m  of office space and associated external works, to be completed either concurrently with the Civic Office or to a slightly later timescale.

Lot 3: Multi story car park Design, procurement, construction, fit-out, commissioning and handover of approximately 600 parking spaces over 5 levels.