Buildings and contents insurance for the Royal Pavilion and Dome Complex

Concepts

• hove
• content insurance provision
• dome complex
• royal pavilion
• complex buildings
• buildings and contents insurance
• the royal pavilion
• royal
• complex
• contents

Location

Description

Royal Pavilion and dome complex buildings and content insurance provision

Award Detail

CPV Codes

• None found

Legal Justification

In late December, the council's current building insurer notified their intention to reduce coverage for the Royal Pavilion and Dome Complex by 90% from 1st April 2025, while simultaneously increasing the annual premium by 152%. This indicated the insurer's intent to withdraw from this high-value risk. The Royal Pavilion and Dome Complex, a Grade 1 listed cultural and iconic asset, is central to Brighton & Hove's identity and attracts significant public visitation. Due to the critical need for continuous insurance coverage, the following factors necessitate a direct award without a standstill period: • Urgent Risk Mitigation: The council faced an imminent risk of significant underinsurance from 1st April 2025. Any lapse in adequate cover would expose the council to unacceptable financial and reputational risks, given the asset's value and public importance. • Specialised Market: Insurance brokers confirmed a severely limited market for heritage site insurance. This market is distinct from the general public sector insurance market. The specialised insurers within this market do not participate in standard framework tenders due to the time constraints and the unique risk profiles involved. • Time Constraints: The council initiated immediate discussions with legal, finance, procurement, and our insurance broker in early January to assess options. A property risk evaluation survey, necessary to provide insurers with essential risk information, was conducted in late January, with results received in mid-February. This timeframe precluded the possibility of a compliant tender process being completed in time for the contract to be in effect by the 1st April 2025 deadline. • Single Supplier Justification: A rapid market exercise, conducted by our brokers, yielded a single viable bid from Ecclesiastical Insurance. Ecclesiastical Insurance is a leading UK specialist in insuring heritage properties, possessing the necessary expertise, underwriting capacity, and claims handling capabilities to meet the unique requirements of the Royal Pavilion and Dome Complex. Their expertise with grade 1 listed buildings, makes them uniquely able to provide the required cover.

Other Information

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