Construction work set to begin on new multi-storey car park

Construction is set to begin on a new £9m multi-storey car park for Stevenage. The new car parking facility, to be built on the existing Railway North car park, is being delivered by specialist contractor Huber and was granted planning permission by Stevenage Borough Council in January 2022.

The new parking facility will deliver an increased number of spaces on this site. 622 spaces will be provided – up from 339 on the existing car park – and includes 30 blue badge spaces. Initially 30 spaces will be available for electric vehicles, with capacity to increase charging facilities significantly as demand increases. Secure parking for 80 bikes is included as part of the scheme.

The design of the car park highlights some of the best features of the town, creating a unique car park to support commuters and residents, and the economic growth of Stevenage.

Cllr Sharon Taylor OBE, Leader of Stevenage Borough Council said: “This is a hugely exciting development for Stevenage. Situated at the gateway to the town, we are creating a car park to support commuters and residents and providing an improved experience for those using the facilities. By future proofing the scheme, we are responding to changing customer requirements. The new car park on this site will perfectly complement the Bus Interchange and offer a number of ways for people to travel”.

The construction work means that the Railway North car park will be closing on Monday 23 May, for approximately a year. There is alternative parking provision within the town, and it is recommended to park at St George’s Way Multi-Storey car park (SG1 1EP) or Westgate Multi-Storey (SG1 1QR) car park during this closure.

Cllr John Gardner, Executive Portfolio Holder for Regeneration & Environment at Stevenage Borough Council said: “We understand that there will be a degree of frustration that we are closing the Railway North car park, and we would like to reassure residents that there is alternative parking provision in the town. Our town centre is being transformed through a £1bn regeneration programme, and as part of this, we want to ensure that our town centre is as accessible as possible and that people have travel choices when visiting the town”.

Huber is a specialist multi storey car park design and build contractor working across the UK with variety of public and private development. Tomer Meirom of Huber said: “We are very excited to take part in the regeneration of Stevenage, the plans are grand, and we are proud to have been chosen to design and build this unique facility in such pivotal place in town. We hope to keep the disturbance to the public to the minimum necessary.”

These improved facilities will offer more for those using the railway station and improve the gateway to Stevenage. Together with the Stevenage Bus Interchange, this development will help to create a sustainable travel hub. By investing in sustainable facilities, including car parking for electric vehicles, secure storage for bicycles and the easy connection to the new bus interchange, people will have choices about how they travel.

The multi-storey car park is one of the projects to have benefitted from the government’s Towns Fund initiative, with money from the bid forming part of the funding to support the construction of the facility. £1.1m towards the new multi-storey car park was contributed as part of the multi-million pound Growth Deal funding secured by the Hertfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership for Stevenage regeneration.

For more information please contact the Communications team on 01438 242168.