News

Metro Deconstruction Services Ltd (‘Metro’) have been appointed as contractors by The Guinness Partnership and they have issued a community newsletter. This explains the works that metro will be undertaking to demolish the existing buildings at the site along with other enabling works which are required in advance of construction.

The works commenced on 26th July 2021 and are expected to take 14 weeks to complete. As members of the Considerate Constructors Scheme, Metro will be working hard to limit noise and dust. If any neighbouring resident or business has any issues or concerns, they can contact Metro personnel by using the contact details below.

Operations Director: Paul Bowyer
Mobile: 07780 030977

Site Manager: Simon Barden
Mobile: 07966 530952

We’ve just produced a newsletter which gives an update on progress following the approval of the plans for the Matalan site back in March this year.

We’ve dropped in printed copies to our nearest neighbours and you can download a copy by clicking the button below.

Key dates

The key dates with the proposals – some of these could be subject to change – are as follows:

• June 6th 2021 (confirmed): Matalan store closes – the company is looking at a new location.
• July 1st 2021 (confirmed): Guinness Partnership take formal ownership of the site following Matalan’s store decommissioning.
• Early August 2021 (precise date to be confirmed): Demolition and associated works begin and will take an estimated 16 weeks to compete.
• Early 2022 (precise date to be confirmed): Construction phase starts.

More information

For those interested in more detailed information about the demolition works and how these will be managed, there are a couple of documents below available for download.

Last week (2^nd March), The Guinness Partnership, one of England’s largest housing associations received the overwhelming support of Stevenage Borough Council’s Planning and Development Committee for the regeneration of the Matalan site, Danesgate – a key site within Stevenage Town Centre.

The site has long been identified by Stevenage Borough Council as suitable for redevelopment.  It currently includes a retail store and associated car parking, as well as the adjacent car parking to the rear of the store and fronting Lytton Way. 

In line with the outline planning permission agreed a number of years ago, 526 one and two-bedroomed apartments will be provided, along with 779 sq. m of flexible commercial space, which will be located at ground floor level.

The design, by Stirling Prize winning architects Maccreanor Lavington, was comprehensively reviewed and supported by the independent Design Council who stated that, ‘It is our view that this proposal would be an asset to Stevenage town centre’.

Jon Milburn, Group Development Director at Guinness said, “We are very pleased to receive the support of Stevenage Borough Council for this site which is a very important and integral part of the wider revitalisation of Stevenage Town Centre. Due to the site’s prominence and role in the Council’s ambitions for a new and vibrant heart to the town, we have placed a very high emphasis on achieving excellence in design. These proposals will transform an under-utilised brownfield site with excellent links to the town centre, leisure facilities and public transport including the brand-new bus interchange and the improved railway station.”

“We are very pleased to receive the support of Stevenage Borough Council for this site which is a very important and integral part of the wider revitalisation of Stevenage Town Centre.

Jon Milburn, Group Development Director, Guinness Partnership

Jon Milburn, concluded, “We heard from councillors that they are very keen to see construction commence given the Council’s long-standing aspiration for the regeneration of the site. We will now take the necessary steps to deliver these exciting plans and expect construction to start in early 2022, creating an estimated 188 jobs. In line with our 130-year history of providing social homes, we will also assess our ability to increase the number of affordable homes above and beyond that which had been agreed in the outline planning permission prior to our involvement.”

The Guinness Partnership is organising a video presentation of the draft plans for the Matalan site on Thursday 24th September 2020 at 6.30pm

You can register for this by clicking on the button below.

The Webinar will involve The Guinness team explaining the key details of the proposals and there will be an opportunity for participants to pose questions and make comments via the chat facility.

You can join via smart phone, tablet or computer and you can send any questions in advance by emailing consultation@matalansitestevenage.info

It would help us a great deal if you could send questions in advance so that we can ensure that we cover them at the Webinar.

The session will last an hour and we hope that you will be able to join us on Thursday 24th.

If you have any problems registering, please do get in touch by using the contact form available on this website or you can call us on 0207 242 0170.

The Guinness Partnership, one of England’s largest Housing Associations has announced today that it will bring forward detailed plans to deliver another key element in the revitalisation of Stevenage Town Centre.