Direct Award of Property and Development Agreements for the Royal Bolton Hospital Retail Development Scheme.

Overview

Bolton NHS Foundation Trust ("BFT") has entered into a Ground Lease dated 11 September 2026 with Noviniti Dev Co 14 Ltd ("Noviniti") ("Ground Lease") in respect of land at Royal Bolton Hospital, Minerva Road, Farnworth, Bolton ("the Hospital") which has been identified by Noviniti as the site of a proposed building extension to the existing entrance to the Hospital. The development will accommodate 3 new retail units and associated office and storage plus circulation space within the building extension plus 3 further retail units and internal refurbishment works within the existing Hospital building and minor external works ("the Potential Development"). The agreement leading to the grant of the Ground Lease was the subject of (inter alia) a Transparency Notice published on 16 June 2026 reference 2026/5-000-056489, a Contract Award Notice published on 26 June 2026 reference 2026/5-000-060495 and a Contract Details Notice published on 7 September 2026 reference 2026/S 000-084619. The Ground Lease is for a term of 35 years, subject to earlier break rights in favour of BFT at the expiry of two years from the date of grant of the Ground Lease (exercisable in the event that the works to undertake the Potential Development have not been commenced by that date) and again as an absolute right on the date 30 years from the date of completion of the Potential Development. BFT now intends (subject to receiving business case sign off from the Trust Board) to enter into further documentation relating to the Potential Development being:- (a) a Licence for Alterations under the Ground Lease authorising Noviniti to undertake the Potential Development; (b) a Deed of Variation of the Ground Lease varying the terms of the BFT break rights; and (c) a multi party Agreement for Lease ("S2AFL") with Noviniti, WH Smith Hospitals Ltd ("the Operator") and WH Smith Hospital Holdings Ltd ("the Guarantor") and BFT's wholly owned subsidiary Integrated Facilities Management Bolton Limited ("IFM"). IFM are referenced in this Notice as a potential party to the S2AFL and the other documents requiring to be executed (including the Licence for Alterations; the Deed of Variation of the Ground Lease; the Operator Lease and the Trust Retail Leases on the basis that it has a short term leasehold interest in relevant areas of the Hospital to accommodate its role as facilities manager on behalf of BFT. On the basis that it is a wholly owned subsidiary of BFT, it is not considered necessary to separately advertise IFM's role and where IFM does not have relevant property interest requiring it to enter into the relevant leasehold documents, IFM will not be a party. Under the S2AFL, Noviniti is not obliged to carry out the Potential Development but if it does not BFT may exercise its break rights to terminate the Ground Lease if Noviniti does not commence the relevant works by an agreed deadline. Under the terms of the S2AFL, if Noviniti completes the construction of the Potential Development, the Operator is obliged to accept a Lease of the completed building extension for use for retail purposes ("the Operator Lease"). The Operator Lease will be for a term of 15 years from completion of the Potential Development. Under the terms of the S2AFL, BFT are obliged to accept a Reversionary Lease of the completed building extension for a term of 15 years commencing on the term expiry date of the Operator Lease ("Reversionary Lease"). The S2AFL also provides for the grant to the Operator by BFT (and IFM where appropriate) of three occupational leases of areas within the existing Hospital entrance for retail purposes ("the Trust Retail Leases"). Two of the Trust Retail Leases will be for a term of 15 years co-terminus with the Operator Lease, the third will start later (approximately 26 January 2028) and will end on 28 March 2042 All the Trust Retail Leases will be terminable in the event of the Operator Lease being determined prior to lease expiry. The S2AFL further prov