Every Stevenage conversation includes jokes about concrete and roundabouts, usually from people who’ve never actually worked here. The reality is more complex – 1960s construction techniques that created robust buildings with infrastructure limitations that become apparent when you try installing modern technology.
Our recent project in Gunnels Wood involved converting 1970s industrial offices into contemporary workspace. The building was structurally sound but housed electrical systems designed for factories rather than computer-intensive operations. Three months of negotiations with UK Power Networks to upgrade supply, complicated by the discovery that neighboring buildings shared utility connections in ways that original plans hadn’t documented.
Stevenage’s success creates infrastructure pressure. The town centre’s pedestrian areas work brilliantly for shopping but complicate delivery logistics. Business parks provide excellent access for staff but delivery schedules must avoid rush hour congestion on the A1(M). We factor transport planning into every project because assumptions about accessibility prove expensive.
Planning applications require understanding Hertfordshire’s development priorities. The council favors schemes that enhance Stevenage’s role as a business centre over residential conversions. Submit proposals that demonstrate job creation and economic benefit rather than just providing office space. Address parking provision because Stevenage’s car-dependent design means inadequate parking kills business viability.
Working with New Town Advantages
Stevenage’s planned development creates advantages that organic growth can’t match. Utilities installed with spare capacity, roads designed for modern traffic, and business zones that actually work for contemporary operations rather than fighting historical constraints.
Local suppliers understand Stevenage’s business community. Our electrical contractor has worked on most of the town’s major commercial developments. He knows which buildings have adequate power supplies and which ones require creative solutions. The mechanical services specialist understands both modern requirements and 1960s construction methods.
But New Town planning also creates limitations. Everything was designed for specific purposes, so adapting buildings for different uses requires understanding original design assumptions. Emergency deliveries can be complicated by pedestrian zones and one-way systems that confuse drivers unfamiliar with planned town layouts.
Skills availability benefits from the established manufacturing base. Experienced engineers, technicians, and project managers who understand complex industrial projects. But competition for specialist trades increases when aerospace companies expand simultaneously with pharmaceutical developments.
