Stevenage Town Centre Regeneration
A transformation of Stevenage Town Centre is happening through a number of separate projects. We are campaigning to ensure that routes to and through the Town Centre enable people to choose cycling for everyday journeys.
Stevenage has the first purpose-built traffic-free shopping zone in Britain; with regeneration, more people will be living in the Town Centre itself. People cycling from one part of Stevenage to another also use through routes on roads within the Town Centre as they are more direct and convenient than diverting around the cycleways beyond the boundary formed by the 4 dual carriageways.
In Summer 2020, we documented the 3 north-south routes within the Town Centre to highlight some issues with access.
This was shared with SBC portfolio holders for transport and regeneration and with officers.
Town Centre North South routes.
- Route 1 now passes the new Bus Interchange and the Old Great North Road route has become a shared use paved path. The rest of the route is unchanged.
- Route 2 remains entirely unchanged although Event Island now occupies the site of the old bus station. The Yellow Brick Road route along Danestrete still has a cycling ban - except for northbound in the evening between 6pm and midnight. More information about our campaigning for this route here.
- Route 3 remains entirely unchanged although Autolus now occupies the site of the Marshgate carpark. The pavement has been widened for pedestrians at Market Square but the dropped kerb access to the Indoor Market cycle parking was removed.
In November 2020, we had a first meeting with the SBC Regeneration Team to hear about the future plans for the Town Centre.
The Meeting Slides include the map of the planned cycle and pedestrian routes in the SG1 regeneration area. The outline map shown in the picture above is on slide 9.
In February 2021, we completed a mapping activity highlighting where access could be improved.
This has been been shared with SBC and HCC officers and other interested parties including developers and councillors.
In May 2021, secure cycle parking was installed in the Indoor Market
We were involved in the planning of this and it has been very welcome as the only free, secure, covered cycle parking in the Town Centre.
In August 2022, we met for a Town Centre walkabout with the SBC portfolio holder for Environment.
We focused on access to, across and along St George's Way.
In Autumn 2022, we attended the consultation events with The Reef Group about the redevelopment of The Forum.
A formal response was then submitted on the planning application.
Cycling UK comments on The Forum planning application
We welcome the new proposed cycleway around the edge of the site along Fairlands Way and St Georges Way as far as a new toucan crossing to the Swimming Pool.
April and May 2023 – we attended 2 walkabouts with the ATLEE (Active Travel Lived Experience) group
These covered the complete Town Centre north south route near St Georges Way. They were attended by the SBC Environment portfolio holder and officers from the SBC Regeneration team, engineers and environment. Along with Cycling UK, there were representatives from Friends of the Earth.
Autumn 2024 - Market Place improvements
These included pavement widening and removal of dropped kerb access to cycle parking. Teun van Leeuwen asked a question regarding inclusive access for people cycling at Full Council meeting on 16th October. This question and the answer received can be seen here (Question C)
July 2025 - Planning Application for NH College ECC to relocate to the Indoor Market.
We campaigned for better access to this facility and submitted comments on the Planning Application for the Indoor Market change of use to the Engineering and Construction Campus of North Herts College. Details here
Public access to the cycle parking will be maintained and additional cycle parking for students is to be provided. No improvements to cycle access to the site have been proposed.
Back to Stevenage Cycle Campaign - Cycling UK
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