Ebbsfleet Development Corporation (EDC) has announced the launch of a major infrastructure tender to enable Ebbsfleet Central, the heart of the Ebbsfleet Garden City scheme in North Kent.
The ‘Ebbsfleet Central EC2 Phase 1a infrastructure works’ will deliver highways, utilities, structures and public realm improvements that will open up the new commercial and civic heart on land centred around Ebbsfleet International train station. The programme marks a significant milestone in the regeneration of a site of national significance and is pivotal to the government’s growth ambitions for North Kent.
The enabling works will clear the way for a new mixed-use urban quarter featuring offices, homes, shops, restaurants and leisure uses anchored by one of the UK’s most important international rail hubs. Ebbsfleet Central will continue to deliver significant socio-economic benefits to the wider community, including job creation, skills development and increased local supply chain spend.
At full build-out, Ebbsfleet Central is planned to deliver up to 485,000 square metres of mixed-use development. This includes more than 3,000 high-quality, well-designed and environmentally sustainable homes, delivered across a mix of tenures to provide a range of housing choices for local people and help meet the area’s housing needs. The scheme will also provide around 100,000 square metres of office space and 10,000 square metres of retail and leisure floorspace.
As a new commercial hub for the region, Ebbsfleet Central will complement existing high streets and established retail destinations such as Bluewater, while enhancing the wider commercial landscape of South London and Kent. Strategically positioned on the international rail network, it is designed to attract investment, support business growth and strengthen connections between London, Kent and continental Europe.
EDC is offering flexibility within the procurement process, with bidders able to compete for one or both of the available lots:
- Lot 1: Highways, utilities and associated landscaping (indicative value £45million to £55 million)
- Lot 2: Buildings, structures and associated landscaping (indicative value £50million to £60 million)
Up to five contractors per lot will be shortlisted to tender.
Preferred bidders will be appointed under a Pre-Construction Services Agreement (PCSA) and will work collaboratively with EDC through RIBA Stage 4 to agree a fixed contract sum via an open-book process, subject to final government approval.
Construction is currently scheduled to commence in April 2028, with completion anticipated by May 2030, with provision for a potential three-month extension.
The Ebbsfleet Central project sits at the heart of the wider Ebbsfleet Garden City vision to deliver up to 15,000 new homes alongside a new civic and commercial centre for North Kent, driving long-term economic prosperity for the area.
As overall master-developer for Ebbsfleet Central, Ebbsfleet Development Corporation (EDC) is driving the site forward with the leadership, experience and long-term commitment needed to deliver at both scale and pace. More than 5,000 homes have already been delivered across the wider Ebbsfleet Garden City, and EDC has secured continued central government funding to unlock the next phase of growth and deliver key projects across the site. Acting as the critical link between the public and private sectors, EDC creates the right conditions for investment and has a strong track record of unlocking development through targeted infrastructure investment.
The opportunity is being marketed via EDC’s InTend portal: Ebbsfleet Development Corporation Electronic Procurement Portal – Home. Clarification queries must be submitted by 2 February 2026, with tenders due by midday on 16 February 2026.