Photography competition launched following results of urban artworks survey

Over the last three weeks, Stevenage Borough Council has been asking the local community to choose their favourite themes for the next set of underpass artworks, located at the Monkswood Way and Six Hills Way roundabout. Over 500 responses were received.

Six themes, each with links to the town’s history and culture, were identified and the local community asked to select their favourite three.

The winning themes are:

Stevenage Photographers

Town Centre Gardens

‘Stevenage on Wheels’

Hertfordshire based artists MurWalls will now progress the designs for the artworks, with the exception of one of the walls, which will be dedicated to Stevenage Photographers. This will give amateur photographers the opportunity to share their beautiful imagery of interest points in Stevenage.

We are today asking local people with an interest in photography, who would like their images to be considered for this category, to submit up to three images. Each image must have been taken in Stevenage and should be accompanied with up to 100 words detailing what the image depicts, where in Stevenage it was taken, and any interesting facts that you’d like to share as part of your submission.

Entries should be submitted to regeneration@stevenage.gov.uk by 5pm on Monday 25th March. The entry form with further details can be found at the bottom of this page.

When the competition closes, a panel of judges will select the final imagery to be used within the underpass.

Cllr Richard Henry, Leader of Stevenage Borough Council, comments: “We were thrilled to receive over 500 responses to this survey, demonstrating the passion that our communities have for artworks within the town. The photography competition provides further opportunity for this artwork to be truly reflective of everything Stevenage has to offer and have images of the town from local photographers utilised for everyone to enjoy. Thank you to everyone who participated in the survey, and good luck to all of those who choose to enter their photography for the next stage”.

Cllr Loraine Rossati, Executive Member for Culture, Leisure and Information Technology at Stevenage Borough Council, comments: “Our public art projects are a celebration of our town and our people.  We hope, too, that it will lead to more people choosing to use our walkways on foot or on wheels.  I know from social media that we have some superb location photographers.  I’m looking forward to seeing what our talented local photographers submit, and to showcasing their work.”

These underpass artworks form part of a wider programme of underpass improvements within the borough, as a partnership between Stevenage Borough Council and Hertfordshire County Council.

The project is being funded by the Stevenage Development Board through national government’s Towns Fund, of which Stevenage received £37.5m in March 2021.

Chair of the Stevenage Development Board Adrian Hawkins OBE added: “It has been a great pleasure to see such remarkable engagement from the people of Stevenage when has it come to our murals sited in our underpasses. This project really has captured the imagination, both within Stevenage, but also externally and underlines just how much thought and planning is going into developing a town which we can all be proud of. We hope that they continue to underline our heritage, our purpose and our future as the Town continues its fascinating pathway to the future”.

Stevenage Borough Council and Hertfordshire County Council are working together to improve a number of underpasses throughout Stevenage, improving these for pedestrians and cyclists and celebrating everything that the town has to offer.

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Stevenage’s £9.6 million new bus interchange completed and ready to open later in the Spring

Stevenage’s new bus interchange on Lytton Way has reached another milestone.  At a completion and handover ceremony, the interchange and bus station building were handed over to Stevenage Borough Council on Thursday 10 March 2022. The interchange will see buses arriving and exiting to serve the people of Stevenage from late Spring 2022.

The event was attended by representatives from Stevenage Borough Council, Hertfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), contractors Willmott Dixon and other stakeholders including the Stevenage Town Centre Partnership.

Cllr Sandra Barr, Mayor of Stevenage, said:  “It was indeed a day to celebrate a wonderful milestone for the regeneration programme that is transforming our town.  I thank the many people from Stevenage Borough Council, Hertfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership, our colleagues at Hertfordshire County Council and, of course, the contractors, Willmott Dixon – all have worked in the spirit of true partnership to arrive at this outstanding moment in time, despite the project being delivered through the Covid-19 pandemic.”

Work started on the project in late 2020, funded by a £9.6 million Local Growth Fund investment from Hertfordshire LEP, with the work completing on the first phase of the stages of the transport hub, connecting Stevenage Railway Station and the new bus interchange.

The development will drastically improve transport links across the town, provide better accessibility and align with the newly-regenerated Town Centre.

The interchange features an extensive canopy with a large glazed screen and automatic doors for easy passenger access. It also includes a passenger facilities building which provides a heated waiting area with extensive seating, live passenger information boards, a café, fully accessible toilet and changing facilities and shop mobility services.

External works include high quality public realm, seating areas with newly planted trees and a soon to be completed pedestrian connection.  This will link the bus interchange, town square and the train station, ensuring a clear connection between the existing cycle network and bus and rail networks and providing integrated links between Stevenage’s main transport hubs.

Cllr Sharon Taylor OBE, Leader of Stevenage Borough Council said: “We are delighted to have reached this milestone with our partners and to see the incredible progress that Willmott Dixon has made on such a key project. The interchange is a pivotal part of our £1 billion regeneration programme which is seeing us deliver some fantastic schemes. I am really looking forward to the bus interchange opening later in the year and serving the population of Stevenage with modern, upgraded facilities.”

Cllr John Gardner, Executive Portfolio Holder for Regeneration & Environment at Stevenage Borough Council, added: “The new interchange will offer a massive boost to the town centre and provides excellent upgraded facilities for everyone. It links more effectively with the newly expanded railway station and will enable a new Garden Square to be delivered at the location of the old bus station site. This is a really exciting time for Stevenage and our partners – all of whom have been integral to the success of our regeneration programme.”

“We are delighted the bus interchange project has reached this momentous milestone” commented Adam Wood, Chair of Hertfordshire LEP, “which will not only improve connectivity and transport links within Stevenage but also provide an attractive gateway for visitors that befits the redeveloped Town Centre. The scheme forms a key part of our £34m Local Growth Fund investment towards the town’s regeneration, set to help bring forth new homes, public amenities, and retail and business space to maximise the town’s economic potential.”

Simon Ramage, Director at Willmott Dixon concluded:

“We’re incredibly proud to be handing over the bus interchange to Stevenage Borough Council and to have delivered these fantastic new facilities for the local community. As a locally based construction company, we’re delighted to be part of the regeneration programme which is benefiting not only Stevenage, but also the surrounding areas.”

Topping out ceremony held at new bus interchange

The event was attended by representatives from Stevenage Borough Council, Hertfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), and contractors Willmott Dixon.  A ‘topping out’ ceremony is traditionally held once the last beam has been placed on top of a new construction in the building trade.

Work started on the project in late 2020, part-funded by a £9.6m Local Growth Fund investment from Hertfordshire LEP, with Willmott Dixon working ahead of schedule to complete the first stages of the transport hub. The development will drastically improve transport links across the town, provide wider accessibility and align with the newly-regenerated Town Centre.  Works on the interchange should be completed in the coming months with services commencing thereafter.

The interchange features an extensive canopy with a large glazed screen and automatic doors for easy passenger access. It also includes a passenger facilities building which provides a waiting area with extensive seating, live passenger information boards, a café kiosk and public conveniences as well as greatly-improved accessibility features.

External works include a new high-quality connection linking the bus interchange, town square and the train station ensuring a clear connection between the existing cycle network and bus and rail networks and providing integrated links between Stevenage’s main transport hubs.

Cllr Sharon Taylor OBE, Leader of Stevenage Borough Council said:

“We are delighted to carry out this ceremony with our partners and to see the incredible progress that Willmott Dixon has made on such a key project. The interchange is a pivotal part of the early stages of our ongoing 20-year regeneration programme, and, when open, will provide a massive improvement on the existing setup.”

Cllr John Gardner, Executive Portfolio Holder for Regeneration & Environment at Stevenage Borough Council, added:

“The new interchange will offer a boost to the town at a time when we’re all looking to push forward following the impact of the pandemic. It links more effectively with the newly expanded railway station and will enable a new Garden Square to be delivered at the location of the old site. This is a really exciting time for Stevenage and we’re very happy to meet with our partners today, all of whom have been integral to the success of our regeneration programme.”

“We are delighted with the progress made to date on the new interchange” commented Adam Wood, Head of Infrastructure & Regeneration at Hertfordshire LEP, “which will not only improve connectivity and transport links within Stevenage but also provide an attractive gateway for visitors that befits the redeveloped Town Centre. The scheme forms a key part of our £34m Local Growth Fund investment towards the town’s regeneration, set to help bring forth new homes, public amenities, and retail and business space to maximise the town’s economic potential.”

Chris Tredget, Managing Director at Willmott Dixon concluded:

“It’s fantastic to be able to celebrate the ‘topping out’ of Stevenage’s new Bus Interchange and all of the progress made so far. Once completed, the project will make a real difference to the transport links in the town and we’re proud to be working alongside Stevenage Borough Council and Hertfordshire LEP to deliver the first stage of the town’s regeneration programme.” 

Co-Space joins the regeneration programme

Flexible workspace specialist HEWN has advised Co-Space on the signing of a new 10 year agreement, over three floors at 21-29 Town Square to provide a high quality, flexible workspace operation as part of the new mixed use regeneration of Stevenage Town Centre.

The deal signed between Co-Space and Stevenage Borough Council represents the first phase of the Town Centre redevelopment and will provide over 15,000 sq.ft. of design led, in-demand workspace as well as a roof terrace, event space and break out areas for communal use.

As part of “Stevenage Better”, Stevenage Borough Council is carrying out a full regeneration of the post war new Town costing over £1bn over a 20 year period which will deliver over 7,300 new properties by 2028, an expanded railway station, improved transport and connectivity links as well as new retail, sports and leisure facilities.

Part of this work is being funded by a £34m Local Growth Fund investment from Hertfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), including £1.5m towards the regeneration of 21-29 Town Square to provide much needed business space within the town centre.

With its super-fast train links to London (22 mins) and the East Coast main line running to Edinburgh, as well as direct access to the A1, Stevenage offers a fantastic opportunity for the perceived new way of working post COVID-19.

The “hub and spoke” model of working, where business, both large and small, can allow employees and owners to work near home 1-3 days a week whilst travelling to a central hub for the rest of the week is increasingly being seen as the way that people will want to work.

Alistair Thomas, co-founder at Co-Space commented: “We are very excited to be working with Stevenage Brough Council to provide the first of its kind flexible workspace offering in Stevenage.  Working together, we are creating a space that will meet the needs of businesses and individuals who are looking for a workspace and community that is created for them and represents their working practices. With the rise of people moving outside of central London we feel Stevenage is a great place to not only work, but to live.”

Adam Wood, Head of Infrastructure & Regeneration at Hertfordshire LEP, said: “Our investment will help convert previously unused space at the heart of Stevenage into a vibrant and modern workspace for local entrepreneurs and SMEs. As we move forward out of the pandemic, it is vital for both the county’s economic recovery and the vitality of our places, that we provide the facilities and infrastructure needed to enable businesses to flourish locally, in order to increase employment opportunities for local people and encourage footfall to town centres during the working week.”

Will Kinnear, director of HEWN commented: “Stevenage Borough Council had a vision for the workspace to be provided as part of the Town Centre regeneration and we were delighted to be able to introduce the team at Co-Space to achieve this.  The workspace will not only provide the Town Centre with a product that meets the needs of occupiers but will also form an integral part of the mixed use offering moving forward”.

HEWN acted on behalf of Co-Space and Sanderson Weatherall represented Stevenage Borough Council.

Hertfordshire is powering the UK’s future

Hertfordshire LEP together with the University of Hertfordshire supports the University Alliance’s Powering the UK’s Future campaign. This will further amplify the role higher education plays by working hand in hand with other organisations to drive future prospects and prosperity.

“Here in Hertfordshire we have solid foundations for growth with the University of Hertfordshire, four high-performing FE colleges and a strong legacy of partnership working to deliver skills and employment opportunities. Together we are united by one common purpose: to unlock potential and widen access for all, encouraging social mobility and demonstrating that all aspects of the skills agenda, i.e. apprenticeships and traineeships are valued options. Our ‘ground-up’ approach, rooted in local knowledge and tied to our communities, will be the bedrock of our national recovery. Hertfordshire LEP together with the University of Hertfordshire supports the University Alliance’s Powering the UK’s future campaign. This will further amplify the role higher education plays by working hand in hand with other organisations to drive future prospects and prosperity.

Powering businesses and growth

“Skills are the common currency that powers our economy and are a dynamic driver of enterprise, investment and new industry. This link between education and industry is vital to ensure that we are creating the right skills for our key sectors and championing innovation and entrepreneurship. Hertfordshire Growth Hub, the county’s flagship business support provider, is powered by Hertfordshire LEP and part delivered by the University of Hertfordshire.

“Over the past year, the role of Growth Hubs has been strengthened nationally to meet the huge increased need for business support during COVID-19. Hertfordshire LEP in partnership with the University of Hertfordshire and Hertfordshire Growth Hub devised the Volunteer Business Support Scheme, a free and confidential 1-2-1 mentoring programme. The scheme launched in June 2020 and through its network of experienced mentors it has supported more than 190 businesses, providing over 600 hours of 1-2-1 support. Due to its success and excellent feedback, it has now been extended until November. The national Peer Networks Programme, delivered locally by Hertfordshire Growth Hub consortium partner, the Hertfordshire Chamber of Commerce, gives SMEs an opportunity to network with fellow businesses, collaborate to find solutions to common issues, and access expert business advice and support.

“In December, the University of Hertfordshire opened its new £12m Enterprise Hub at its de Havilland campus in Hatfield, with a £2.5m Local Growth Fund investment from Hertfordshire LEP. The Hub will significantly enhance and expand existing support available to businesses in the region by providing flexible business incubation, office space, teaching and social areas under one roof, to facilitate greater collaboration between students, academics and the business community.

Powering people and jobs

“A new report from The Prince’s Trust and the Learning and Work Institute, supported by HSBC UK, warns that youth unemployment will remain high after other areas of the economy begin to recover, costing the UK economy almost £7 billion next year.

“Our Hertfordshire Supports Apprenticeships campaign, supported by a broad coalition of HE, FE, apprenticeship providers, schools, employers and other stakeholders, sends out a very clear message that apprenticeships are valued and viable career path options. In so doing it will help to:

  • Deliver a diverse resident workforce fit for the future;
  • Raise the skills and productivity levels of those already in work;
  • Showcase the resilience of apprentices and employers during COVID-19.

“Here in Hertfordshire we are very fortunate to have the Hertfordshire Opportunities Portal (HOP), masterminded by the Hertfordshire LEP’s Skills and Employment Board, which connects employers with future skills pipelines. Residents can access the information they need to make informed decisions on career path options including Further Education, Higher Education, professional qualifications, work experience and job opportunities; employers can reach and recruit their future talent and upskill and provide progression opportunities for existing staff. Up and down the country, every LEP Board has HE and FE representation and our Careers and Enterprise Company Enterprise Adviser Network convenes local expertise to align with schools and colleges to help shape courses, ensuring the right skills for the right jobs.

Powering communities

“Universities also have a critical role to play in the future of places and delivering the Government’s Plan for Growth. Our plans for levelling up opportunities in Stevenage (see Stevenage Development Board plans here) are greatly enhanced by the University of Hertfordshire’s presence and our four FE colleges. Following our successful bid, Stevenage was awarded £37.5m from the Government’s Towns Fund, a £3.6 billion fund used to help deliver the government’s plan to level up our regions by using different indicators of need and deprivation. This funding will help to enhance STEM skills facilities with the support of North Herts College and the University of Hertfordshire, unlocking future growth in our world-leading key sector industries, such as life sciences and advanced manufacturing, and providing real, high-value opportunities for local people.

“Our combined efforts to deliver a ‘workforce for tomorrow’ (Planning for the Future: Hertfordshire Local Skills Report, 2021) across Hertfordshire and our neighbouring counties will be greatly enhanced by the University Alliance’s policies to power the UK’s future. This campaign will create a broader understanding of the nation’s skills needs with a greater focus on excellent delivery to power a national economic, social and cultural recovery from COVID-19. It will present real benefits and opportunities to students and local employers and speak with ‘one voice’ to Government. We fully support and encourage this initiative to help power the UK and Hertfordshire’s future.”

 

University of Hertfordshire – https://www.herts.ac.uk/about-us/news-centre/news/2021/hertfordshire-is-powering-the-uks-future
Plans agreed for regeneration of key Matalan site

On 2nd March The Guinness Partnership, one of England’s largest housing associations received the overwhelming support of Stevenage Borough Council’s Planning and Development Committee for the regeneration of the Matalan site, Danesgate – a key site within Stevenage Town Centre.

The site has long been identified by Stevenage Borough Council as suitable for redevelopment.  It currently includes a retail store and associated car parking, as well as the adjacent car parking to the rear of the store and fronting Lytton Way.

In line with the outline planning permission agreed a number of years ago, 526 one and two-bedroomed apartments will be provided, along with 779 sq. m of flexible commercial space, which will be located at ground floor level.

The design, by Stirling Prize winning architects Maccreanor Lavington, was comprehensively reviewed and supported by the independent Design Council who stated that, ‘It is our view that this proposal would be an asset to Stevenage town centre’.

Jon Milburn, Group Development Director at Guinness said, “We are very pleased to receive the support of Stevenage Borough Council for this site which is a very important and integral part of the wider revitalisation of Stevenage Town Centre. Due to the site’s prominence and role in the Council’s ambitions for a new and vibrant heart to the town, we have placed a very high emphasis on achieving excellence in design. These proposals will transform an under-utilised brownfield site with excellent links to the town centre, leisure facilities and public transport including the brand-new bus interchange and the improved railway station.”

Jon Milburn, concluded, “We heard from councillors that they are very keen to see construction commence given the Council’s long-standing aspiration for the regeneration of the site. We will now take the necessary steps to deliver these exciting plans and expect construction to start in early 2022, creating an estimated 188 jobs. In line with our 130-year history of providing social homes, we will also assess our ability to increase the number of affordable homes above and beyond that which had been agreed in the outline planning permission prior to our involvement.”

£37.5m investment is ‘once in a generation’ opportunity

March 3
The Comet
Jacob Thorburn

 

More than £37 million worth of investment will be coming to help realise “radical and innovative” change in Stevenage, after the town successfully bid for its share of central government grant funds.

Stevenage Development Board, set up in 2020 to organise government funding through the MyTown initiative, has confirmed it has been awarded tens of millions in grant funding from central government.

After submitting a comprehensive bid and passing through a detailed government review, Adrian Hawkins OBE, chair of Stevenage Development Board, announced the town had been awarded £37.5 million.

The successful bid aimed to boost the growth of businesses in Stevenage which have a national and international base. The heritage of the UK’s inaugural new town was also a key focus and it will now offer the chance to reflect on and reinterpret this for future generations.

Mr Hawkins said: “Our vision was ambitious, our plan clearly deliverable, and the message was simple: Investing this money in the future of Stevenage is an investment in the future of our country, of our children, and will unleash more than £600m of private investment to supercharge UK businesses, as we once again unify in a time of great national need and set a new blueprint for innovation.

“I am delighted to announce this, not least because Stevenage is the town where I grew up in a council house, the town which gave me the chance to build my own business and a place which I hold so dear.

“This will now see not just an investment in buildings and infrastructure, but an investment in the people, to improve their lives and to boost their skills to enable them to engage with local employers and local employment.

“It is urgent that we now consider how we accommodate, expand and deliver skills to our important science-based industries in the Town and ensure that they have the environment to develop, expand and employ locally. The businesses and sectors located in Stevenage are competing on a global level, and their success is intrinsically linked to our national economy – our residents simply cannot and will not be left behind.”

Projects which have been submitted relate to a number of key areas including connectivity, arts and culture, regeneration and land use and skills and enterprise.

The successful bid aimed to boost the growth of businesses in Stevenage which have a national and international base. Heritage of the first New Town was also a key focus and it will now offer the chance to reflect on and reinterpret this for future generations

Cllr Sharon Taylor OBE, leader of Stevenage Borough Council, commented: “We have an unprecedented opportunity, a once in a generation moment to re-vitalise the town and provide outstanding opportunities for local people and businesses.

“Proposals that will create jobs, a thriving heart of the town, support the growth of world class businesses and boost the national economy. A unique chance to accelerate the regeneration of the town centre, providing vibrancy and places for people to enjoy.

“The plan will build resilience for Stevenage in the face of the threats presented by COVID-19 and recession, by providing creative employment and upskilling for local people.

“We have a united, broad and strong partnership, pride in our heritage, determination to make regeneration happen, and the passion to deliver a pioneering future.”

Mark Bretton, chair of Hertfordshire LEP and the LEP Network, commented: “As the UK’s first new town, Stevenage holds the legacy of Hertfordshire’s pioneering spirit.

“There has never before been such a strong collective determination to build on this proud heritage and rejuvenate the town for the 21st century.”

David Williams, leader at Hertfordshire County Council and chair of Hertfordshire Growth Board, added: “This Town Deal Investment Plan will accelerate Stevenage’s game changing regeneration strategy.

“Stevenage’s clear sighted ambition to evolve from pioneer post war new town to a 21st century national hub for science, technology and advanced manufacturing excellence will be delivered faster and with greater certainty.

“Hertfordshire County Council shares the ambition for Stevenage to exceed its potential and has supported this endeavour as an active partner from the start.”

Read the story in full here – https://www.thecomet.net/news/business/stevenage-awarded-millions-in-regeneration-planning-investment-fund-7804158

You can see the Executive Summary of the Town Investment Plan here

Market Place Highly Commended in 2020 Street Design Awards

The transformation of the public spaces in Market Place, one of the original Stevenage Town Centre streets and one of the first to undergo regeneration, has been Highly Commended by judges at the 2020 Street Design Awards.

The scheme was completed in late-2018 and introduced a range of new universal play equipment and street furniture, bringing a sense of fun and identity to an area in need of renewal. The scheme has boosted footfall and increased activity, receiving positive feedback from businesses based there.  It was one of the first schemes delivered as part of the wider £1bn regeneration of the town centre.

The Awards are run by LocalGov, the UK’s largest dedicated government news website and celebrate innovation and best practice in street design across the country. Entries were submitted in February, before the pandemic, and Market Place was Highly Commended in the ‘Children’s Play’ category, being narrowly beaten by Islington LBC.

Cllr John Gardner, Executive Portfolio Holder for Regeneration and Environment, commented on the accolade.

“We are delighted to have been Highly Commended in one of the UK’s leading Awards of its type. Prior to the regeneration scheme, Market Place was starting to become unattractive, however the transformation – with relatively low levels of investment – has been incredible and brought life back to the street, reflecting the quality of local businesses. We know from retailers and traders based here that footfall has increased and it’s rare to see the street unoccupied such is the popularity of the play equipment.  The accolade is testament to the hard work, innovation and creativity of our internal teams and regeneration partners.”

Cllr Sharon Taylor OBE, Leader of Stevenage Borough Council, commented.

“Market Place was one of the first areas we looked to transform in our 20-year, £1bn programme and the results have been outstanding. We always felt it was important to invest in our public spaces up-front as a catalyst for the larger scheme, and its impact has been clear to see and its success represents a strong platform to launch our other programmes from. We now have four major schemes underway in the town, with another to launch next year, and if the results are anything like we have seen with Market Place Stevenage is really set to benefit. After a very tough year for everyone this is some positive news to round off 2020.”

You can see a full list of winners here – http://streetdesign.localgov.co.uk/

 

The First New Town – An Exciting Future

Innovation Corridor
Adrian Hawkins
22 october 2020

When times are at their most difficult it can often be hard to look ahead and see the positives which are there for us all. It is important though that we do seize the opportunities that present themselves and now is just such a point in time, for Stevenage.

As the independent Chairman of the Stevenage Development Board, I am so proud of the transition which the first New Town is now making, as it becomes such a progressive place to live and work.

The recent classification by the Department of International Trade of Stevenage as a High Potential Opportunity zone (HPO) underlines just how much progress the town has made in such a short space of time – and just what an exciting future it has.

The HPO classification was made in recognition of Stevenage’s thriving cell and gene therapy cluster, and it underlines what a centre of innovation the town has become.

And while of course we must recognise that Covid-19 is having a major impact on our present, towns such as Stevenage are proving to be resilient to this and are clearly going to be the places of the future, where shrewd investment, both Public and Private, will help to create high quality local jobs and truly great lifetime opportunities with the support of an ever growing Business sector in the Town.

Our Towns Fund bid is nearing completion and will shortly be submitted to Government for due consideration. It will create the opportunity for the long- term development of the Town as the ideal environment for our innovative businesses and our very capable residents to continue to develop.

SG1 granted approval by Planning Committee

The single largest scheme in the regeneration of Stevenage Town Centre has received approval from Stevenage Borough Council’s Planning and Development Committee this evening.

Stevenage Borough Council’s Development Partner Mace will bring forward SG1, a new development covering 14.5 acres of the town centre and introducing 11 new buildings including residential, leisure, community, commercial and retail facilities.

This landmark proposal will create a new heart for Stevenage, which will serve the needs of local people and businesses for decades to come.

Mace’s vision is to create a new and connected heart for Stevenage, delivering sustainable housing, community facilities and public spaces which will serve the needs of local people and businesses for decades to come. With a focus on inclusivity, environmental sustainability and wellbeing, SG1 will create attractive new streets, squares and public realm as well as improving pedestrian and cycle connections across the town. The first phase of SG1 includes the demolition of Swingate House on Danestrete and the former Police Station on Southgate.

Subject to the outcome of a supplementary review by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, construction will now be scheduled to begin in the coming months, joining ongoing regeneration projects which form part of the wider 20-year, £1bn regeneration plans for Stevenage. These include the Town Square & Town Square North Block, Queensway North and the new Bus Interchange, all currently under construction. An additional programme is also set to start on Lytton Way which will introduce bus priority lanes and improved accessibility to the railway station whilst also supporting the Council’s efforts to reach its ambitious climate change goals.

Cllr Sharon Taylor OBE, Leader of Stevenage Borough Council, said.

 “This is a really fantastic moment for Stevenage and we’re delighted that such a major scheme has been granted planning permission. When we started this journey we aimed as high as possible and working with world-class firms like Mace will help us to achieve our goals and make the town an even better place for people to live, work, play and relax. Mace’s proposals are truly transformational and we can’t wait for work to begin. 2020 has been challenging for everyone, but hopefully this announcement, combined with the progress being made on our other ongoing developments, will give everyone cause for optimism.”

Kevin Cowin, Development Director at Mace, said:

‘We’re delighted to receive the [strong] support of the Council’s Planning and Development Committee and this marks the culmination of a huge amount of work by our team. We have developed an excellent partnership with the Council since we were selected in February 2018 to bring forward this exciting town centre regeneration. We’d like to thank the officers and elected members of Stevenage Borough Council for the proactive approach they have taken in pursuing the vision for their town and we will continue to work closely with the Council to transform the town centre, creating social and economic opportunities for the local community.’

‘This is the largest town centre regeneration plan in eastern England and a project that Stevenage deserves. We know from our extensive engagement and consultation with local people last year that residents and businesses are very eager to see SG1 become a reality. High streets and town centres face major challenges which have been amplified by the COVID-19 epidemic. SG1 is even more crucial now for the revitalisation of the heart of the town so that it can look forward to a better, brighter future.’

Cllr John Gardner, portfolio holder for Environment & Regeneration at Stevenage Borough Council, said,

“This is another major milestone in our ongoing 20-year, £1bn regeneration programme and marks a really significant moment for the town. We all know that the town has needed regeneration for some time and we are now delivering the real change that it needs. The plans for the SG1 scheme that Mace have brought forward will have an enormous impact on the town both now and in the future and are likely to encourage even further investment. We would like to take the opportunity to say thank you to everyone involved so far, this really is testament to the efforts of all who have contributed.”