Stevenage Heart Trails are launched to highlight art across the town

25 MARCH 2026

The Stevenage Heart Trails have officially launched! Spanning over 27 miles of traffic-free travel to allow the exploration and discovery of art and heritage across the different communities of Stevenage, the various routes highlight historic and new art.

The suggested routes, and the artwork they include, can be viewed online: Heart Trails – Stevenage Even Better. Over the coming weeks, each piece of artwork will have a plaque installed to share its history.

Cllr Simon Speller, Cabinet Member for Culture, Leisure and Wellbeing at Stevenage Borough Council, comments: “Art brings joy to our everyday lives. It allows us to express how we feel, celebrate where we live and take pride in place. As a town with a wealth of history and heritage, immortalising this in artworks throughout Stevenage allows everyone to learn and enjoy. As the weather starts to improve, we encourage people to utilise these trails to enjoy being outdoors and celebrating all that is great about the town”.

Cllr Richard Henry, Leader of Stevenage Borough Council, added: “The regeneration of the town centre isn’t just about bricks and mortar. Alongside delivering new infrastructure, we are enhancing and celebrating the great things we already have as a town that make us unique. This includes the huge amount of artwork across the borough that we hope will be enjoyed and understood by everyone. With the support of the Stevenage Development Board through the Towns Fund, we are opening this up to be explored and appreciated by our current and future residents and communities”.

Stacked Stories, the mosaic sculpture at the Stevenage Bus Interchange by artist Donna Reeves, marks the first piece of new public artwork commissioned for the trail.

Artist Donna Reeves adds: “I’m incredibly proud to have created this community artwork for the Stevenage Bus Interchange. It is a town that holds deep personal significance for me and my family. Reconnecting with the town through art has meant a great deal to me. I’d like to extend my thanks to Stevenage Borough Council, Junction 7 Creatives, my team and Stevenage community for their support and enthusiasm throughout the project. This mosaic sculpture is a celebration of the power of art to bring people together, and I’ve loved every moment of making it”.

The Heart Trails have been funded by government’s Towns Fund through the Stevenage Development Board.

Adrian Hawkins OBE, Chair of the Stevenage Development Board said: “I am delighted to celebrate the launch of the Stevenage Heart Trails. A key part of the work of The Stevenage Development Board is making sure that everyone is proud of where they live and where they come from. Artworks are an essential part of this, adding colour and vibrancy to celebrate everything that is great about Stevenage.

“Working in collaboration with both the borough and county council, our recently completed programme of underpass artworks has proven incredibly popular with the local community. The Heart Trails are an extension of this, commemorating the heritage the town has whilst mirroring this in new, modern artworks.

“The project has been funded by the Stevenage Development Board through national government’s Towns Fund, of which Stevenage received £37.5m in March 2021. The Board has channelled funding for projects in the town into several key areas such as the healthy enjoyment of our facilities and improving cycling and pedestrian connectivity.

“I look forward to seeing the remaining artworks and signage installed for everyone to enjoy!”

The programme of underpass improvements and urban artworks recently delivered were a partnership between Stevenage Borough Council and Hertfordshire County Council. The Heart Trails have the full support of the county council and have been delivered collaboratively.

Mark Doran, Executive Director of Growth and Environment at Hertfordshire County Council said: “Projects like the Stevenage Heart Trails show how we can connect people with their local environment in new and engaging ways. By linking high-quality public art with accessible, traffic-free routes, we’re creating spaces that encourage people to walk, wheel, cycle, or take the bus and explore their communities.

“This collaborative programme not only celebrates Stevenage’s identity and heritage, but also supports healthier, more sustainable travel choices. It’s a great example of partners working together to deliver improvements that enhance everyday journeys and help make our places more vibrant and enjoyable for residents and visitors alike.”

 

New public artwork unveiled at Stevenage Bus Interchange

WEDNESDAY 24 SEPTEMBER 2025

A new, permanent piece of public artwork has been unveiled at the Stevenage Bus Interchange. Featuring stories and memories from the local community, including what brought people to Stevenage and their favourite things about the town, the mosaic sculpture is positioned directly in front of the entrance to the Bus Interchange.

Local artist Donna Reeves has been working with Junction 7 Creatives (J7C) to collate these stories.

Donna Reeves comments: “I have enjoyed creating this public mosaic sculpture as it reflects the ideas, stories, and personal memories of the Stevenage community, making it truly for the people. After 30 years of working in public art, this project feels especially personal, as I see it as a way of giving back to the town that welcomed my grandpa and family from London to Hertfordshire”.

This piece of artwork forms part of the Stevenage Heart Trails – 27 miles of traffic-free footpaths allow everyone to explore and discover hidden art and heritage across Stevenage. This commission is the first in a wider series of public art commissions to follow.

Cllr Simon Speller, Cabinet Member for Culture, Leisure and Wellbeing, added: “Our communities and pioneers have helped to create the Stevenage we know and love today, and this is reflected in this sculpture. The memories and stories shared, and items embedded in the artwork, represent many pieces of history for the community to own and be proud of. Public art helps to shape our public spaces and this, and the commissions to follow, celebrate the heritage of the town and the people who built it”.

The commission forms part of the UK government’s Towns Fund grant to Stevenage, through the Stevenage Development Board. Stevenage received £37.5m in March 2021.

Adrian Hawkins OBE, Chair of the Stevenage Development Board, commented: “The Stevenage Development Board were provided with a responsibility to assist with the regeneration of Stevenage which includes skills development, facility improvement, safer more pleasant environments, a responsibility for the Towns heritage as the FIRST New Town which includes encouraging our residents to consider what we own and to develop new pieces of art for everyone’s enjoyment. The Bus Interchange is always busy as our residents go about their day-to-day business and trips, and this has been a fabulous opportunity to create a wonderful new piece of artwork in this area which in time will become an even busier thoroughfare”.

You can find out more about Donna on her website: www.andbydonnareeves.com.

Local schools invited to help design the next underpass artworks in Stevenage

Local schools invited to help design the next underpass artworks in Stevenage

Primary and secondary school pupils in Stevenage are invited to showcase their creative and design skills with bold colourful designs for a brand new urban design competition “Colour in the Underpass”.  Winning entries will feature in a large school urban artwork display in a Stevenage underpass to be unveiled in Spring 2025.

Pupils are invited to create bold designs in predominantly one colour shade.  The competition provides opportunities for local children to get involved with what’s happening in their town and learn more about Stevenage’s unique New Town history and unique pedestrian and cycle network.

Cllr Richard Henry, Leader of Stevenage Borough Council, comments: “The urban artworks recently unveiled in the town highlight just some of the things that are great about Stevenage, from our much loved green spaces through to internationally renowned businesses. There are so many opportunities here for young people, and it has always been our vision to allow everyone to help to shape the future of the town. We are now asking for help from local schools in shaping the next underpass artworks in the town, based on bold, bright colours and designs. We look forward to seeing the entries!”.

Cllr Loraine Rossati, Cabinet Member for Culture, Leisure and Wellbeing at Stevenage Borough Council, comments: “Our public art projects are about making the town more vibrant, showcasing the talents of our local community and highlighting their contributions to Stevenage. Young people have so much to offer and we are so excited to be launching this competition to showcase a new set of artworks as part of this programme. We hope that projects like this will also encourage younger people and families to use our pedestrian and cycling infrastructure, not just for leisure but for walking and cycling to school too.”

The competition closes on Friday 15 November when entries will be judged by a panel of judges.

The underpass project is being funded by the Stevenage Development Board through national government’s towns fund of which Stevenage received £37.5m in March 2021, and will be the latest artwork to be installed as part of a programme of underpass improvement works by Stevenage Borough Council and Hertfordshire County Council.

Chair of the Stevenage Development Board Adrian Hawkins OBE added: “Involving the young people of Stevenage in framing their own future is a cornerstone of the regeneration project and it’s clear that these are the people who will shape what tomorrow looks like.

“Creating a competition in which schools are able to design the next underpass artwork using the theme of colour is the perfect way to include the next generation in town development.

“With our focus on STEM and the desire to make Stevenage a great place to live and work, it is my firm belief that engaging young people through education to choose how their home will look is the perfect outcome.

“I’m also delighted that we have chosen colour as our next subject matter and have given a clear nod to the original developers of the town who, among other remarkable acts of foresight, colour coded Stevenage and its areas for ease of access.”

For more information about the competition, please email regeneration@stevenage.gov.uk.

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