· Towns Fund Programme Management
o Financial forecast
o Summary of programme progress
· Towns Fund Projects
o Cycling & Pedestrian Connectivity (inc. Arts & Heritage Trail)
o Sports & Leisure Hub
o SITEC & Enterprise Centre
· Communications & Marketing
· Gunnels Wood Road Study
· SG1
Minutes:
The Board received an update on the Regeneration Programme from the Council’s Regeneration Team:
· Ishbel Ross, Senior Regeneration Officer
· Ross Hughes, Regeneration Manager
· Dave Wells, Assistant Director, Regeneration
· Lucy King, Regeneration Programme Manager
· Gemma Hannant, Regeneration Manager
· Natasha Lee, Regeneration Marketing and Communications Manager.
Towns Fund Projects
· Cycling & Pedestrian Connectivity (inc. Arts & Heritage Trail)
Sish Lane Underpass
Following previous underpass projects, such Broadhall Way and Monkswood Way, plans were in place to commence work on the Sish Lane underpass based on the theme “Old to New”. This work would enhance the cycling and walking experience, aligning with a broader goal to improve 22 underpasses, with this being the 7th to be completed.
The project involved local street artists painting murals to create high-quality artwork, and formed part of the Arts and Heritage Trail. This trail aimed to showcase the town’s public art and heritage features, supported by signage for wayfinding.
Cycle Hire Scheme
The scheme involved over 40 barrel bays for cycle hire across Stevenage, with line-marked and docked bays. The project remained flexible, with opportunities to add more bays after the launch.
The project connected with public realm improvements, including two new colourful murals in Market Square, along with new pedestrian footpaths, lighting, and greenery to be completed by the end of 2024.
The Leader, Stevenage Borough Council, expressed interest in the size of the cycling network, currently estimated at 45 kilometres but potentially larger, and requested updated data.
Martha Cobbold, Knebworth House, congratulated the team on their progress.
· Sports & Leisure Hub
The Stage Two Design Phase began in July 2024, working with Morgan Sindall and architect Faulkner Brown. The new leisure hub would replace the current swimming pool, which would remain open during construction. The leisure hub would include a community café overlooking Town Centre Gardens.
Stage Three of the design, focussed on dimensions and structure, was expected to commence by early November 2024. The team had held productive conversations with Hertfordshire County Council regarding accessibility and infrastructure.
Daniel Trindall, Morgan Sindall, added that building services, civil, and structural strategies were being finalised. They aimed to present final design plans at the next board meeting.
· SITEC & Enterprise Centre
SITEC
There was ongoing collaboration with stakeholders to expand Stevenage’s capacity for life sciences and STEM education. This project was anticipated to play a crucial role in supporting the thousands of new jobs expected in the region.
The Chair noted that the project aligned with the Government’s investment focus, and asked Kevin Bonavia MP for assistance in advocating for the project. .
Enterprise Centre
Phase One - This involves the refurbishment of office units in Stevenage Town Centre in partnership with Co-Space and UBS. The project had received planning permission and construction was expected to begin in early October 2024, with completion targeted for February 2025. This would support the influx of over 150 new workers, aligning with Stevenage’s growing workforce demands.
· Towns Fund Programme Management
Summary of programme progress
The Towns Fund programme comprised of nine major projects. Payments from Central Government were provided every six months based on performance reporting. Stevenage was one of only seven towns to receive funding in the last payment window, reflecting the progress made.
o Gunnels Wood Road Infrastructure Project: £1 million allocated, ongoing collaboration with Reef and utilities for project delivery.
o Marshgate Biotech Centre: This was now operational following the completion of the Autolus headquarters in 2023.
o
Diversification of Retail: This included the development of the
Event Island, managed by the Town Centre Management team, with
further enhancements in progress.
o New Towns Heritage Centre: Design was advancing as part of the Public Sector Hub. The Museum Team was actively involved in planning how the space would be used.
Tamim Choudhury, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government asked for milestone updates on the New Towns Heritage Centre. Gemma Hannant, Regeneration Manager, spoke of the complexity of the building and ongoing work with partners such as Mace, and offered more detailed updates at future meetings.
Financial forecast
Some funding have been re-profiled to 2025/26 due to revised delivery timescales. The reallocation was within the programme's flexibility as granted by MHCLG guidance.
The Chair expressed confidence in the Council’s management of the funds and the overall progress of the projects and sought the Board's endorsement, which was given with no objections.
· Communications & Marketing
o Past Activities
Active Travel Campaign: Over the summer, a campaign promoting active travel was run across social media, particularly on Instagram, leveraging the town's strong connectivity to encourage residents to use sustainable transport options.
Beryl Bikes Updates: Communications had been shared with the community ahead of the official launch of the Beryl Bikes scheme.
Market Square: Updates had been provided on operational matters such as car park access, as well as showcasing new urban artworks designed to revitalise the area.
SG1 Updates: Operational updates, such as car park closures, had been shared to facilitate the neighbouring site's development.
o Current and Future Activities
Sish Lane Mural and Market Square: Updates would continue to be shared as these projects moved forward, with an unveiling of the newest mural coming soon.
Beryl Bikes Launch Event (30 September): An event was planned for the launch of the Beryl Bikes scheme at Daneshill House, which the Chair, Adrian Hawkins, and all Board Members were invited to attend and engage with Beryl representatives regarding the corporate aspects of the scheme.
Awareness Raising & Events: Plans were in place for upcoming events, including participation in the UK REEF conference in 2025.
Christmas Advent Calendar: Two versions of an advent calendar were being planned—one for Instagram and another for LinkedIn.
o October Focus
A communication campaign was underway to reinforce to the community the current regeneration programme. This included highlighting the creation of a vibrant town centre, job opportunities, skills development, and attracting new investors. The goal was to bring attention to the foundational principles of the regeneration programme.
· Gunnels Wood Road Study
Due to time constraints, Tom Pike, Strategic Director, Stevenage Borough Council suggested deferring this item. He acknowledged the importance of the Gunnels Wood Road project but offered to circulate the slide deck to Board members and postpone to enable a more detailed discussion at the next meeting.
· SG1
Councillor Richard Henry, Leader of Stevenage Borough Council was tn pleased to report to the Board the positive news that Stevenage Borough Council and Mace were working together to commence the SG1 scheme. Both parties had signed legal documents to allow works to begin on the site in early October 2024.
The Board was advised that the build would take approximately two and a half to three years to complete with residents moving into the homes from 2026.
It was noted that the Swingate Car park would be closed from 7th October for the duration of construction.