“The Stevenage town centre hub perfectly mirrors the aspiration of One Public Estate as this is not just a new building."
Region: Central
Theme: Regeneration, Integrated Public Services
The challenge
Public service providers in Stevenage currently operate from a range of isolated sites around the town centre. By co-locating and working much more closely, they will be able to address the local health and wellbeing challenges more effectively. As well as creating development opportunities by releasing land and reducing running costs through sharing space, a public service hub will transform the customer service offer in Stevenage. Services within scope of the project include health services, the library, council offices, Age Concern, Citizens Advice Stevenage and Stevenage Credit Union.
Actions taken/planned
One Public Estate awarded £55,000 to the Stevenage project in 2017 for a consultant to develop the schedule of accommodation for public sector partners and accelerate delivery of Stevenage town centre regeneration. Prior to the procurement of a construction company to develop the site, Stevenage Borough Council worked with local health partners, Hertfordshire County Council and voluntary sector organisations to understand their future service needs, explore ways of sharing space and working more closely together and form their space requirements for the hub. OPE supported work to jointly develop a health planning document for shortlisted bidders to use to develop concept designs for the hub.
Stevenage Council is now in the process of forming a legal agreement with the construction company as it enters into an exciting phase of refining designs and the master plan. This will include working with all partners to refine the designs for the hub prior to consultation on the scheme, expected in late 2018.
Work is also underway to attract private investment in other parts of the town centre. It is an exciting time for Stevenage, and the strong market interest being shown is a reflection of the clear vision, hard work and commercial approach to re-development that has been instilled through the Stevenage central framework.
Outcomes/potential outcomes
The project is expected to deliver £8 million in capital receipts and £400,000 running cost savings, to release land for 800 homes and create 250 jobs over a 10-year period.
