The Government has outlined how a £37.5million grant will be spent in Stevenage – including a new £10m sports hub and major regeneration work.

In March 2021, it was announced that Stevenage was one of 45 towns to put in a successful bid for funding from the £1bn Town’s Fund.

The fund was open to applications from 101 eligible towns and councils, with the ambition of investing in regeneration projects across the country. Stevenage Borough Council was granted £37.5m.

Nine projects will receive funding under the scheme. The investment plan is intended to bring greater job opportunities to the town, as well as improved leisure and health facilities, and improved public spaces.

A council spokesperson said: “This plan set out proposals to create an exemplar 21st century New Town, maximising the opportunities within local economy (including capitalising on the life sciences opportunity) to meet the needs of local people, attracting visitors and investment and revitalising the town.”

The project to receive the most funding will be a Stevenage Sports and Leisure Hub, which has been allocated £10m.

Work on the ‘Station Gateway’ – which will see improvements made to the area around the railway station and in Lytton Way – will receive £6.5m from the grant. £5m has also been awarded for a Stevenage Innovation and Technology Centre.

The Town’s Fund projects will support the council’s £1bn regeneration scheme, which has seen major work done to revitalise the town centre.

The full list of projects to receive a share of the funding is:

  • Stevenage Enterprise Centre – £4m

  • Gunnels Wood Road Infrastructure Improvements – £1m

  • Station Gateway Enabling Works – £6.5m

  • Marshgate Biotech – £1.75m

  • Stevenage Innovation & Technology Centre – £5m

  • National New Towns Heritage Centre – £2m

  • Stevenage Sports and Leisure Hub – £10m

  • Cycling Connectivity and Arts & Heritage Trail – £3.5m

  • Town Centre Diversification & Garden Square – £3.75m

The funding will be in place until the end of the 2025/26 financial year, with the council receiving between £7.4m and £12.1m a year between 2022/23 and 2025/26.

The council is also expected to receive an initial allocation of £1.875m this month to ensure work on the next stages can be completed.

The council must submit a business case for each project to the Ministry of Communities and Local Government by 24 March 2022 to demonstrate the feasibility, viability and value of money for the projects.