Refurbishment & Regeneration

A project to regenerate the Town Centre Gardens in Stevenage, which is being funded through a £1.77 million grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, will start later this month.

The first phase of the regeneration works will focus on the pond, which will be drained with the fish removed to a temporary home in Bedfordshire to be returned to the gardens once the works have been completed.

Other work to the pond will include a new wooden embankment around its edge, marginal planting at the northern end, anchored floating islands to provide safe nesting areas for waterfowl and a new bridge to provide easier access.

Since Stevenage Borough Council’s successful application was confirmed May 2009, designs have been finalised and technical specifications written for the extensive works to the gardens.

Work is due for completion in April 2011. Information will be posted around the gardens throughout the project and will be available on the council’s web pages.

Cllr John Gardner, deputy leader of the council, said: “I am sure that everyone will be pleased to see work underway on the redevelopment of Town Centre Gardens. We are all very keen to see the Gardens restored to their former glory. This is a very important project which I am sure will benefit everyone who lives or works in Stevenage.”

www.stevenage.gov.uk