Housing

As Britain's first New Town, Stevenage was carefully planned from the start to create high quality of life and a thriving community. At an early stage in the town's development, the pioneering planners recognised that what families wanted above all else was good quality housing set amongst open spaces and trees with transport, schools and other facilities nearby.

Stevenage has the unique distinction that it is possible for every resident to walk from their home to the nearest school or local shop without having to cross a road.

Another important consideration has been to ensure that the needs of all residents are catered for. This means that in addition to family houses, there is a range of flats and flat-share schemes, mobile homes, maisonettes and bungalows.

Ensuring a good mix of housing type has always been an important consideration in Stevenage from the post-war planning through to today.

Design and quality of housing has always been important and there is a good mix of traditional streets and courtyards, terraces and detached properties, together with traffic-free designs and sheltered housing for older residents.

2004 House Prices (Jan-Sept)

Source: upmystreet, Feb 2005

There is also a range of housing in the surrounding rural villages offering the option of living in the countryside for those who so desire.

Stevenage is set to be the centre for major new housing development in Hertfordshire.

The East of England Plan, which is still under consultation, has allocated 14,400 new dwellings in the wider Stevenage area with strategic allocations to the West of A1(M) and to the North of Stevenage. This will broaden the range of choices of houses and this will also help with the regeneration of Stevenage to become a sub-regional centre in Hertfordshire.