Gunnels Wood Initiative

The vision:

A revitalised Gunnels Wood provides an outstanding business area that is an attractive place to invest, work and visit. The quality of development, the environment and transport provision is of the highest standard, providing an exemplar business area and gateway to Stevenage that benefits the whole town.

A strategic vision for the Gunnels Wood Industrial Area has been developed based on input from a widespread group of both public and private sector organisations. Core to the realisation of this vision is targeted revitalisation of the area. This revitalisation project will have substantial, positive and lasting impact on both Gunnels Wood specifically as well as Stevenage more broadly.

The aims of the project are:

• To facilitate the development of a modern business area containing a diverse mix of predominantly employment activities, with an emphasis on knowledge-based and innovative operations, but including modern office, manufacturing and warehousing activities;
• To encourage new and small enterprises to develop within the area alongside major companies;
• To maximise development opportunities in the area;
• To promote supporting facilities for companies and their employees where they improve the quality of the working environment;
• To provide a modern image that reflects the characteristics of the business area;
• To provide a high quality environment where people will want to work, invest and visit;
• To improve the quality of transportation and access to, from and within the area by all modes of travel; and
• To have a strong representative partnership organisation to help deliver the vision for the area.

The Gunnels Wood Initiative is an integrated package, which seeks to establish synergies between various components. The project integrates infrastructure provision and improvement, economic development, strategies that relate to the area’s image and identity and transport, as well as environmental considerations.

Given its scope, the project cannot be successfully delivered by a single agency. Partnerships will be the only way to deliver the project.

Increased involvement of all stakeholders will be sought over the coming months to ensure that the actions taken in the future accurately reflect a strong partnership based on mutual understanding between government and business. Such a partnership will facilitate higher quality outcomes and increase the project’s likelihood of success.

This is a broad-ranging and exciting regeneration initiative that will revitalise the Gunnels Wood area. Stevenage Borough Council and the Gunnels Wood Initiative Steering Group are keen to work with their partners to implement a programme of action in order to realise the potential and opportunities Gunnels Wood offers.

You can find out more about the Gunnels Wood Initiative by contacting the project manager on 01438 242507 or email alison.cook@stevenage.gov.uk

. Gunnels Wood Area 10 year Strategy