The verdict in three sentences
For a district council of around 110,000 residents in the London area, a website rebuild costs £30,000 to £70,000 ex VAT in 2026 for 200 to 400 pages, online services, an events calendar and WCAG 2.2 AA compliance backed by an audit. At that value, the contract sits below the Procurement Act 2023 threshold for sub-central authorities (around £215,000 including VAT, check the current figure), but a below-threshold notice on Find a Tender is required once the estimated value exceeds £30,000 including VAT if you advertise. The quality of the tender pack makes the difference: weighted criteria, a needs-based specification and a usable price schedule protect the council from unsuitable bids and challenges.
Realistic budget and scope for a council website
The budget depends less on page count than on public service features: online forms, a facilities directory, a calendar shared with parishes, mapping and accessibility. The table below gives 2026 orders of magnitude seen in tenders from councils of 60,000 to 200,000 residents.
| Item | Scope | 2026 range |
|---|---|---|
| Discovery and design | Information architecture, user journeys, prototypes, testing | £5,000 to £11,000 ex VAT |
| CMS build | 200 to 400 pages, templates, multi-editor back office | £11,000 to £26,000 ex VAT |
| Online services | Forms, appointment booking, report-it tools | £3,500 to £11,000 ex VAT |
| Calendar and directory | Events, facilities, community groups | £2,500 to £6,000 ex VAT |
| Mapping | Recycling centres, schools, roadworks | £2,000 to £5,000 ex VAT |
| Accessibility | Accessible design + WCAG 2.2 AA audit | £3,000 to £6,500 ex VAT |
| Content migration and training | Migration, training for 15 to 30 editors | £2,000 to £4,500 ex VAT |
| Total build | £30,000 to £70,000 ex VAT |
Add hosting (£1,500 to £4,000 a year) and ongoing support, often 15 to 20% of the build cost per year. Over a 3-year contract, the value you estimate must include build, support and hosting: a £48,000 build with £9,000 of annual support and £2,500 of hosting comes to £82,500 ex VAT, still well below the threshold.
Tender documents and scoring criteria
A clear tender pack reduces clarification questions and, above all, legal risk. Each document has a specific job.
| Document | Purpose | Watch point |
|---|---|---|
| Invitation to tender | Process, timetable, criteria and weighted sub-criteria | Publish every sub-criterion and its weight |
| Terms and conditions | Term, pricing, service credits, acceptance, IP | Secure IP assignment and exit provisions |
| Specification | Functional, technical, accessibility, hosting needs | State needs, not a named CMS |
| Pricing schedule | Fixed prices and day rates | Usable lines for support and change requests |
| Form of tender | Bidder commitment on price | Total value over the contract term |
| Quality response template | Structured bidder answers | Word limits so bids can be compared |
A common weighting is quality 60% (methodology 20%, design and references 20%, accessibility and performance 10%, support and exit 10%) and price 40%. Allow 21 to 30 days for responses: under 15 days sharply reduces the number and quality of bids. Councils can also call off from a framework such as Crown Commercial Service digital agreements, which shortens timelines to 4 to 8 weeks.
Mistakes that get a procurement set aside
Below-threshold contracts are lighter, but the duty to treat suppliers fairly and transparently still applies, and a challenged award costs months. The five most frequent mistakes on website tenders:
| Mistake | Consequence | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Undisclosed sub-criteria or weightings | Successful challenge, award set aside | List and weight every sub-criterion |
| Naming a CMS without accepting equivalents | Restriction of competition | Describe the functions required |
| Abnormally low bid not investigated | Challenge by a losing bidder | Request written justification |
| Underestimated contract value | Wrong procedure, bids over budget | Include support and hosting over 3 years |
| Accessibility missing from the specification | Non-compliant site, legal duty unmet | Require an audit and an accessibility statement |
The Public Sector Bodies Accessibility Regulations 2018 require an accessibility statement and compliance with WCAG, and the Government Digital Service monitors council sites and can publish findings of non-compliance.
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Mini case study
Tom, head of communications at a district council of 110,000 residents near London, is planning a rebuild of a 260-page site. He estimates the build at £45,000 ex VAT, support at £8,500 a year and hosting at £2,500 a year. Over 3 years: £45,000 + 3 × (£8,500 + £2,500) = £78,000 ex VAT. He runs an open below-threshold tender advertised on Find a Tender, with 25 days to respond and 60/40 scoring. He receives 8 bids between £39,000 and £66,000 for the build. The winner, scored 86/100, delivers in 5 months with a first audit at 84% of WCAG criteria met, reaching 97% after fixes.
FAQ
Which route suits a council website worth £50,000?
A below-threshold open or quotation-based process is enough, since the total stays well under the Procurement Act threshold. Calculate the value over the whole term, support and hosting included, and follow your contract standing orders.
Can we specify WordPress or Drupal?
Naming a product should be justified and accept equivalents. It is safer to describe needs: multiple editors, approval workflow, content export in an open format.
How long from publication to go-live?
Allow 1 to 2 months for tendering and evaluation, then 4 to 6 months for delivery. A project advertised in January is usually live between June and September.
Do we need an independent accessibility audit?
It is strongly recommended: an external audit costs £2,500 to £5,000 and underpins your accessibility statement. Set a target in the specification, for example 85% of criteria met at launch and 95% within 6 months.
What should the pricing schedule include for support?
A fixed annual fee (updates, security, backups) and day rates for changes, typically £550 to £800 a day in 2026. This lets you order enhancements without a new procurement.
Let's scope your project. We help you estimate the contract value, draft a needs-based specification and prepare an accessible build of £30,000 to £70,000 delivered in 4 to 6 months. Detailed quote within 48 h. WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.
