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CHURCHGATE REGENERATION PROJECT UPDATE & NEXT STEPS - PART 1

 

 

Meeting: 16/06/2026 - Cabinet (Item 21.)

21. CHURCHGATE REGENERATION PROJECT UPDATE & NEXT STEPS - PART 1 pdf icon PDF 159 KB

REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR – ENTERPRISE

 

Since the previous update to Members, further work has been undertaken to assess the viability, deliverability and regeneration potential of the Churchgate site. This report provides an update on that work and seeks approval for the additional funding required to support the next phase of the project.

Additional documents:

Decision:

RESOLVED: That Cabinet:

 

RECOMMEND TO COUNCIL: That it:

 

(1)   Approves the additional capital / revenue funding set out in the Part 2 report to support the next phase of the Churchgate Regeneration Project.

 

(2)   Instructs officers to undertake a review of the Council’s external communications approach, with a specific focus on improving transparency, accessibility, and the visibility of key decision?making information.

 

REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATION:

 

(1)   Since the last Full Council update in July 2025, and subsequent Overview & Scrutiny Committee discussions in February 2026, the Churchgate Regeneration Project has progressed significantly and moved into a substantially more mature and evidence-led phase.

 

(2)   Over the past year, the Council has undertaken an extensive programme of work to respond directly to key matters raised by Members and stakeholders, including viability, parking, public realm, market provision, delivery options, governance and long-term town centre sustainability. This has included financial analysis, specialist technical work, Project Board workshops and Member briefings.

 

(3)   This work has enabled the Council to move from high-level vision setting into a more informed, evidence-led and delivery-focused phase.

 

(4)   Alongside this, the Council has also undertaken early engagement with the development and investment sector to inform future procurement, delivery and partnership decisions. Feedback from this work has demonstrated strong market interest in Hitchin and increased confidence in both the credibility of the opportunity and the Council’s commitment to delivering a high-quality regeneration programme for the town centre.

 

(5)   The recommendations within this report therefore represent a logical progression from the work completed to date and are intended to ensure that future decisions regarding the regeneration of the site are informed, evidence-led and commercially robust.

 

(6)   The proposed next stage of work is materially different from earlier strategic and visioning exercises. The Council is now seeking to appoint specialist regeneration and development expertise to work alongside the project team in refining a deliverable scheme, testing assumptions in greater detail, reducing uncertainty and supporting the transition from strategic visioning into delivery planning and implementation.

 

(7)   This phased approach enables the Council to retain control of the project as it develops, whilst ensuring that investment and risk remain proportionate to the level of certainty and information available at each stage.

 

(8)   The proposed next phase reflects the consistent feedback received through market engagement and specialist advice: that the appropriate next step is a structured feasibility and delivery-planning phase focused on shaping a viable, deliverable and investment[1]ready regeneration scheme for Hitchin town centre.