‘Colour in the Underpass’ features artworks from Stevenage school children.

In late 2024 Stevenage schools were invited to submit their colourful designs in a competition as part of a wider programme of underpass transformations throughout the town. The winning 268 entries from 19 schools are now displayed in the Martins Way/Hitchin Road roundabout underpass.

The unveiling event was attended by pupils from participating schools and representatives from Stevenage Borough Council, Hertfordshire County Council and the Stevenage Development Board.

Councillor Simon Speller, Cabinet Member for Culture, Leisure and Wellbeing at Stevenage Borough Council, commented: “It’s wonderful to see the children’s colourful artworks in this latest underpass transformation – thank you everyone for entering the competition! The children should be very proud of their work. This new underpass transformation, alongside others already transformed, will be enjoyed by many pedestrians and cyclists and are key to championing the arts and cultural offering of the town. Stevenage has so much history to be celebrated, so much community spirit and vibrancy, and I thank everyone who has made this underpass into the work of art it is today!”

The project has been funded by the Stevenage Development Board through the UK Government Towns Fund, of which Stevenage received £37.5m in March 2021. Part of the funding is allocated to improving cycling and pedestrian connectivity, and artworks to the underpasses and cycleways throughout the town are a key part of this.

Chair of the Stevenage Development Board Adrian Hawkins OBE added: “The Stevenage Development Board has directed funding for projects in the town into several key areas such as the healthy enjoyment of our facilities and opportunities for skills improvements, alongside recognising our very important heritage as the First New Town. We have been blessed with 44km of cycleways as the town has developed and using bikes is sustainable, cost effective, healthy and safe. Our recent links with schools to encourage them to support our cycleways project with students' artwork is supporting and delivering our heritage further for the future. We are a community with a real opportunity to work together and this we are achieving by making our underpasses more interesting and safer for everyone to enjoy.”

This transformation would not have been possible without the participation of local schools.

Christina Anderson, Chair of the Stevenage Creative Network of schools commented: "It is wonderful to see the children's creativity with colour in this latest underpass transformation. Creativity provides children with the opportunity to explore and communicate ideas - and the overall result is stunning. Having their artwork on display in the public domain supports a sense of belonging and pride in our town. I'm delighted that so many children took part in this fantastic opportunity."

This underpass is the latest to be improved as part of a collaboration between Stevenage Borough Council and Hertfordshire County Council. Over the coming weeks, a further series of underpasses are due to be transformed.

Councillor Paul Zukowskyj, Executive Member for Environment, Transport and Growth at Hertfordshire County Council, added: “This stunning artwork is a brilliant celebration of Stevenage’s young talent and a shining example of what can be achieved when we invest in local spaces and communities. By working as a team, we’re creating safer, more welcoming routes and places for people – and making our towns places to be proud of. Huge thanks to all the children, schools and partners involved – this really brings the underpass to life.”