Stephen McPartland, Member of Parliament for Stevenage, slams Stevenage Borough Council for launching a planning framework, which could destroy any future town centre regeneration.

Stephen McPartland MP said, "I am shocked and disgusted at these ridiculous proposals, which have wasted time and a fortune in local taxpayers money. This nonsense could destroy any future town centre regeneration once and for all by further restricting a Developers flexibility to bring forward a truly radical scheme. Adding Network Rail into the mix is adding twenty years of negotiations that no developer will agree to take part in.

"The framework is not a regeneration plan, it is not an investment vehicle, it has not been costed, it has no access to funding and does not have my support. In fact, it is a barrier to any future regeneration of the town centre and will need to be torn up before we can get any developers or banks to take us seriously as a project.

"It is clear to local people that for over thirty years Stevenage Borough Council have launched several regeneration plans and failed to deliver any of them. I called on the Government last year to step in and establish a new Stevenage Development Corporation to undertake the radical regeneration our town centre needs. This has to be established under energetic and independent leadership.

“It would have its own planning powers and ability to compulsory purchase the property needed. Many people will have positive memories of the old development corporation and some will not, but this is the only way we will get our town centre regenerated.

"The offer is there, if Stevenage Borough Council can give up their addiction to over £3.5 million in car parking charges, which acts as another barrier to any future regeneration.

"Backed by hundreds of millions of pounds of Government and Investors funds, a new Stevenage Development Corporation would launch an international architects competition to design and deliver a completely new town centre to take us into the 21st century."

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