Estate Management and Lifecycle Plan - brief for consultant support

The Estate Management and Lifecycle Plan will provide a comprehensive framework to guide the investment, development, and long-term utilisation of our estate across all sites. This programme of work will be instrumental in supporting organisational decision-making by offering a clear, evidence-based view of the condition, performance, and future requirements of our buildings and infrastructure. It will also play a pivotal role in shaping our long-term priorities, that will be articulated through the 10-year masterplan.

To ensure the plan is robust, deliverable, and aligned with best practice, we require experienced consultant/s with at least 5 years' experience and expertise working with historic buildings.

Working closely with the Director of Finance and Resources and the Head of Operations, the first phase of work will involve familiarisation with the buildings and existing documentation, including Conservation Management Plans. It will also include assessing the condition of the buildings, reviewing significant mechanical and electrical plant, and evaluating the current building management arrangements.

Building on this understanding, the consultant/swill develop sketch impressions and accompanying narratives to illustrate new opportunities. They will identify and present potential investment options, highlight key considerations, and explore these through co-design sessions with key members from the Sheffield Museums team.

Overview Scope:

The appointed consultant/s will deliver a strategic Estate Management and Lifecycle Plan covering seven Sheffield Museums sites, namely:
•    Abbeydale Industrial Hamlet
•    Graves Gallery
•    Kelham Island Museum
•    Millennium Gallery
•    Shepherd Wheel Workshop
•    Weston Park Museum
•    Off-site Collections Store (limited to condition only)

Knowledge and experience:

The consultant/s should demonstrate a strong track record in;

•    Heritage estate management, museum or cultural sector master-planning, or capital project planning.
•    Experience working with listed buildings, conservation areas, and complex multi-site estates.
•    Capability in lifecycle costing, capital forecasting, and feasibility studies.
•    Understanding of museum operations, visitor experience design, and collection care requirements or similar.
•    Commitment to sustainable design, access, and inclusive practice.
•    Advising cultural organisations on identifying priorities.
•    Communicating strategic analysis findings in a supportive and useful way.
•    Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills.

The consultant/s should be able to travel between all Sheffield Museums sites and attend meetings in person and online. 

Timescale & Quotations

Work must align with the timescales of the 18-month Defining a Decade programme. A detailed schedule will be developed collaboratively at inception, but key milestones are anticipated to include:

•    Brief advertised: 16 March-17 April 2026
•    Optional site viewing: 14 April
•    Evaluate Responses: 17-20 April
•    Interview notifications: 21 April
•    Proposed interview date: 23 April
•    Appoint and contract: w/c 27April

•    Project site visits begin: w/c 11May
•    Co-design sessions: w/c 22June
•    Post co-design Direction meeting: w/c 13July
•    Concept sign off: w/c 17 August
•    Final report and presentation: w/c 14 September

The deadline for submissions is: midnight on Friday 17 April. 

For full information, including details of how to make a submission, download the full brief via the link below

You can view the following PDF documents using Adobe Acrobat – you can download it for free at the Adobe website

Queries and quotation submissions should be directed to:

Pamela Cunningham-Hayes, Project Manager (Defining a Decade) pamela.cunningham-hayes@sheffieldmuseums.org.uk