Plans have been submitted for 250 homes and commercial space to be constructed on land at The Oval in Stevenage as part of the regeneration of the area.
The application, validated yesterday (Tuesday, January 2), would see 1200sqm of mixed commercial space created, up to 2650sqm of retail space created and public realm improvements, including a New Market Square produced.
A new multi-faith space is included within the plans, along with a "a range of smaller units suitable for existing tenants such as the laundrette, pharmacy, café and other commercial uses".
The redevelopment of The Oval area would take place in phases, with the development due to be "substantially complete" in 2030.
A planning statement included within the application reads: "The regeneration of The Oval is a longstanding ambition of the council.
"Many of the buildings and homes are reaching the end of their life and the cost of refurbishment to bring them up to modern environmental standards is no longer viable.
"Furthermore, refurbishment would not address many of the wider issues across the site which are attributable to its inward design and layout which creates pockets and areas of poor visibility and are associated locally with crime and anti-social behaviour."
The plans can be viewed by using reference 23/00954/FPM on the Stevenage Borough Council planning portal.
No comments or objections have yet been made.
Demolition at The Oval
Last month (December 2023), an application was submitted for the demolition of 41 homes as part of the redevelopment.
The homes at Hobbs Court were part of a sheltered housing scheme for older people and there are plans for them to be replaced with a similar scheme.
Earlier this year, Stevenage Borough Council put the contract for demolition and clearance works out to tender for a value of £175,000.
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If the plans are approved, the demolition work is expected to begin in February 2024 and to last for around 10 weeks.
The demolition plans can be viewed by using reference 23/00931/PADEMO on the Stevenage Borough Council planning portal.
No comments or objections have yet been made.
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