A free special report from LocalGov and NEC Contracts
Local authorities are under more pressure to deliver than at any time in recent decades. With mandatory housing targets of 370,000 new homes a year across England, complex infrastructure programmes, and ambitious regeneration schemes to deliver – often with reduced budgets and stretched teams – councils need every advantage available.
One of the most powerful and often overlooked levers is the contract. This free special report from LocalGov, produced in partnership with NEC Contracts, examines how collaborative contracting is helping councils across the UK deliver regeneration, infrastructure and growth more effectively – reducing delays, unlocking innovation, and building the long-term partnerships that complex programmes depend on.
What's inside the report?
Drawing on expert insight and real-world case studies, Delivering Regeneration: How collaborative contracts are transforming place-making covers:
Three UK case studies showcasing collaborative contracting in practice:
• Hull City Centre Public Realm Regeneration – a £25m scheme delivered on time and within budget, transforming 14 streets and four public spaces ahead of Hull's City of Culture 2017 designation.
• Beeston Town Centre Regeneration Phase 2 – a £10m cinema and retail development completed just one month late despite the COVID-19 pandemic, through open communication and NEC4's built-in collaborative mechanisms.
• A6195 Corridor Improvement Works, Barnsley – a £6m highways upgrade where NEC3 target cost contracting drove £320,000 in cost savings and cut 247 tonnes of CO2 emissions through contractor-led innovation.
Why contract structure matters as much as funding. Traditional, adversarial contracting models create friction, entrench risk, and slow delivery. Collaborative approaches – including NEC4 contracts – are increasingly recognised as a practical alternative that incentivises transparency, early problem-solving and shared accountability.
How to structure contracts for regeneration success. Helen Sturdy, NEC4 Contracts Board Member, explains how councils can build collaboration into governance, procurement and risk management from day one – including the use of early warning mechanisms, target cost arrangements and framework alliances.
How long-term relationships with the private sector are shaped at the start. Peter Higgins, chairman of the NEC4 Contract Board, makes the case for moving away from conflict-based models. NEC's own research found that among organisations using collaborative contracts, 83% reported improved quality, 82% saw greater innovation, and 81% achieved higher efficiency.
How collaborative contracting can help councils meet Government growth targets. Rekha Thawrani, Global Director at NEC Contracts, examines the gap between housing delivery ambitions and current output – and how smarter procurement can help close it. The Midlands Highway Alliance saved member authorities nearly £1m in procurement costs alone through a collaborative NEC3 framework.
Who should read this report?
This report is essential reading for council leaders, chief executives, directors of place, regeneration and infrastructure leads, and procurement and commercial teams working on major capital programmes. Whether you are managing an active regeneration scheme, planning a housing infrastructure programme, or reviewing your procurement approach, this report offers practical, evidence-based guidance on how to deliver better outcomes through smarter contracting.
Key takeaways include:
• Why 33% of public sector projects now use collaborative contracts on all their work
• How early contractor involvement can save years on procurement timelines
• How digital contract management tools improve transparency and accountability
• What lessons from Hull, Beeston and Barnsley mean for your next major project
Download your free copy today and discover how collaborative contracting can help your council turn policy ambition into tangible, lasting outcomes on the ground.
Delivering Regeneration: How collaborative contracts are transforming place-making is a special report produced by LocalGov in partnership with NEC Contracts.
