Social Value Ideas for Stevenage Borough Council

Withdraw Julians Road item

Officers recommended withdrawal of the Julians Road application because there was uncertainty about the applicant's certification and land ownership. The monitoring officer warned of legal challenge r…

“Item five, Julians Road. I have been informed that due to recent information that has come to light, officers have recommended that this item is also …”

Basil Road flats refused

The committee refused planning permission for the Basil Road conversion to six one-bedroom flats, citing overdevelopment, poor outlook/amenity for occupiers, and parking/highway impacts. Officers had …

“Councelor Hwel. >> thank you, chair. Um, I've uh read all the documents. I've listened to very carefully to what everyone has said this evening and uh…”

Withdraw Chancellor's Road item

Officers advised that the Chancellor's Road planning item should be withdrawn from the agenda because new submissions raised complex issues that needed fuller examination. The committee agreed unanimo…

“Item four, chancellor's road. I've been informed that due to recent information that has come to light, officers have recommended that this item is wi…”

Section 106 viability negotiation

For the Queensway town centre redevelopment, officers asked for delegated authority to continue negotiating section 106 contributions because the scheme was declared unviable. Affordable housing could…

“The independent viability review confirms that the development is currently unviable and this has been assessed by the council's viability appraiser t…”

10-storey block approved

The committee re-approved a 10-storey residential block near Six Hills House after a lengthy revisit caused by stalled Section 106 negotiations and updated legal advice. Officers said the scheme remai…

“So this application um is um for a 10story block of flats. Let me just I just need to get can't actually do the show. We go. Okay. Sorry. Okay. So, th…”

Manor View housing scheme approved

The committee approved demolition of a vacant care home and redevelopment of the site with two three-bedroom houses and eight one-bedroom flats in a three-storey block. The scheme was presented as a w…

“So this application is for the demolition of the vacant care home in Manor View and the erection of two number three bedroom houses and eight number o…”

Broadview/Broxdale scheme approved

Members approved a seven-dwelling scheme on the garage site between Broadview and Broxdale, with officers reporting no highways objections, acceptable biodiversity gain, and policy-compliant parking a…

“So the application is for the erection of seven number three bedroom dwellings. It's a windfall site as it's not allocated. It's approximately fifteen…”

Homes England Grant Award for New Council Housing

Stevenage Borough Council has been awarded £3.4 million from Homes England to deliver 30 new council social rented homes. This brings the total grant funding awarded to Stevenage in 2025 to £24 millio…

“Just this month we've been awarded a further £3.4 million pound from Homes England that will help to deliver 30 new council social rented homes. Now, …”

Joint Submission to Government Due 28 November 2025

All Hertfordshire councils and the police and crime commissioner are required to submit a joint proposal to the government by 28 November 2025. The submission includes the spine document (joint propos…

“we have a deadline of the 28th of November 2025 to submit our proposals to government. Beyond that point all dates are indicative... there aren't many…”

Council Recorded Vote on Preferred Unitary Model

Council held a recorded vote on 17 November 2025 on the three unitary authority options. Results: Four unitary model - 21 votes, Two unitary model - 1 vote, Three unitary model - 0 votes, Abstentions …

“the two unitary model had one vote, the three unitary model had zero votes, the four unitary model had 21 votes, there were four abstensions and 13 me…”

Local Government Reorganization - Three Unitary Options Submitted

Hertfordshire has submitted a joint proposal to the government with three options for local government reorganization: a two unitary model (East and West with populations over 600,000 each), a three u…

“since that period of time in March, there's been lots of work going on trying to financially assess those different options... with the coming of a ne…”