A Blueprint for Sustainable Repurposing
How town centre redevelopment can tick all the boxes of viability and sustainability
Mace Development’s ‘SG1’ town centre regeneration scheme will create a vibrant and mixed-use town centre right in the heart of Stevenage. Over 1,800 new homes are being developed on brownfield land, alongside a new community ‘Hub’, new public open spaces, shops, cafes, restaurants and offices, which will boost the town centre economy and attract fast-growth and inclusive businesses. SG1 will create much needed new homes, jobs and opportunities for the local community and set a new trajectory for a post-pandemic economic recovery.
SG1 offers a blueprint for town centre regeneration and economic recovery across the country – with sustainability and inclusivity as strategic regeneration priorities, to deliver a town centre fit for future generations.
Over the past 2 years we have been working closely with our partner, Stevenage Borough Council, creating an ambitious SG1 proposition. Having the support of the Local Authority helped us to quickly give direction to our ambition and embed our plans within a wider strategic context. We engaged with the local community, listening to the views of thousands of residents and local businesses and stakeholders to help shape our proposals around their needs, and, in October 2020, we received Planning Approval, marking the latest milestone in bringing the
project to life.
An essential consideration was to protect the heritage characteristics of the town, to preserve Stevenage’s unique architectural legacy as the UK’s first New Town, whilst creating viable development plots split into five new urban communities.
Sustainability is at the heart of our scheme – in early 2020, at Mace we launched our net-zero carbon strategy ‘Steps Without Footprints’, as a bold commitment to become a net-zero carbon business by the end of the year.
At SG1, we are showcasing how a large-scale development can viably deliver lower carbon emissions. In the construction stages, we will use modern methods of construction to reduce carbon usage and waste. Photovoltaic panels will be installed to power buildings with renewable energy and new accessible electric vehicle charging points will be installed across the town centre. Our new centre piece landscaped public park and Garden Square will enhance biodiversity, contribute positively to community health and well-being whilst well-signposted and integrated streets will encourage people to walk and cycle, allowing the local community to access convenient and active travel choices between the town centre and surrounding neighbourhoods.
Not only will SG1 transform Stevenage for generations to come with sustainable and inclusive spaces and places, but it will also create an immediate benefit to the community during the construction stage, with hundreds of construction jobs and a significant number of apprenticeships being created.
SG1 is a model for town centre regeneration across the UK, with plans that directly address the climate emergency, whilst creating a vibrant and fresh mix of uses and inclusive communities that are adaptable to the needs of future generations. By populating the town centre with a new residential community we will create demand for business and service, create new jobs and new public facilities in the heart of the town centre with cutting-edge digital connectivity injecting a boost to the town centre economy, and support a thriving and inclusive social and physical infrastructure for generations to come.
