Projects
Topics
Publications
Locations
The project was to produce a regeneration strategy for the 20 plus local neighbourhood centres in Stevenage. It involved a detailed review of the "health" of each centre, an analysis of problems with failing centres, and the development of options for improving them.
One thing became very clear: the most successful neighbourhood centres were those where the retail uses fronted onto a street or road. Those centres that were designed to "turn their backs" to the street were seen to be failing. The concept had been to create quite places away from traffic, but without the visibility from passing traffic (including bus traffic), these centres struggle to attract enough footfall. All the neighbourhood centres now have to compete with out of centre retail parks and supermarkets, as well as the town centre. Consequently, a realistic view has to be taken as to their commercial future. Some centres offer opportunities to improve their retail and community facilities offer, others are better suited to a change of use to residential of at least part of the site.
The study purpose and historical review sections of the report are available in the pdf (se right).The full (draft final) report is available on request - go to contact page.
The Matrix Partnership webpage on this project can be viewed here.
| Location | Stevenage England |
|---|---|
| Date(s) | 2007 |
| Client(s) | Stevenage Borough Council |
| Team(s) | Tim Pharoah with Matrix Partnership |
keywords
Neighbourhood centres, neighbourhood regeneration, urban design, public realm, new towns, Stevenage
images (1)
attached documents (7)
- Study context and historical review of Stevenage neighbourhood centres
- Options report introduction pp1-12
- Large neighbourhood centres: Bedwell Crescent and The Glebe
- Large centres: Marymead and Oaks Cross
- Large centres: The Oval and Poplars
- Large centres: Canterbury Way and Filey Close