As Britain's first post-war new town, Stevenage set a benchmark for other modern urban developments around the country. At the forefront of town planning design and thinking, the area was laid out as a grid, with a pedestrianised heart, a perimeter road and a comprehensive network of interconnecting roads, cycleways and pedestrian routes. Queensway became the first purpose designed pedestrianised shopping street in Britain when it was officially opened in 1958.

There have been a number of piecemeal development proposals to redevelop parts of Stevenage. However in order to revitalise the town, the Council and English Partnerships have sought to develop a comprehensive plan. There are signs that the town finds it difficult to keep up with the changing needs of today's residents, shoppers, retailers and businesses. Our proposals aim to re-establish Stevenage as a major retail, business and leisure destination, as well as sustaining these uses by introducing a significant number of new town centre homes.