Stevenage Borough Council - Life Science Clusters, Life Science Hubs and Information Technology Parks - Quality of Life
A vibrant location, good travel and transport links and affordable house prices are just some of the elements that make Stevenage a great place to live.
Stevenage was designed with leisure in mind, with many excellent facilities for local people to enjoy including:
- open green spaces
- 45 miles of cycle paths
- water sports
- two golf courses
- theatre
- leisure park with cinema, bowling and places to eat
- fitness centres
Shopping opportunities are many and varied with a pedestrianised town centre, small individual shops in the Old Town and large retail parks on the outskirts.
Housing
A mixed range of housing is available both in the Old and New Town areas, with several new developments currently underway.
Stevenage benefits from competitive house prices in relation to the County of Hertfordshire and is significantly cheaper than London but with excellent transport links to the capital.
Education
Stevenage enjoys strong links between the education and business communities. It benefits from excellent primary schools and many local secondary schools have specialist status and boast good records of academic achievement.
Further Education is provided by North Hertfordshire College (NHC), offering a range of vocational and academic courses. Its main campus is a brand new state-of-the-art complex situated right in the heart of Stevenage, which was opened in 2003 by Her Majesty, The Queen.
NHC also has a brand new Skills Centre in Stevenage, offering first class practical facilities for vocational courses in construction and auto mechanical trades.
The University of Hertfordshire, just 7 miles away in Hatfield, is the UK’s leading business facing university and was awarded the Entrepreneurial University of the Year in 2010.
Culture
- Stevenage has it’s own regional theatre and concert venue right in the heart of the town at the Stevenage Arts & Leisure Centre, which also has indoor sports, fitness facilities, art gallery, restaurants, bars and conference suites.
- World famous Knebworth House is within one mile of Stevenage Town centre and holds many specialist events and music festivals throughout the year.
- Stevenage Museum is a small award-winning museum which offers a range of activities and exhibitions throughout the year.
Recreational Activities
- Stevenage Leisure Park, with its multi-screen cinema, ten-pin bowling, fitness centre, 2 night clubs and numerous bars and restaurants provides everything for family days out as well as evening entertainment.
- The Town Centre Gardens have been remodelled as an inspiring urban public space directly adjacent to the town centre, following a £1.7 m injection of Heritage Lottery Funding
- There is a range of sports and leisure facilities all within easy reach, including a swimming pool, all weather pitches, golf courses and, Stevenage Borough Football Club.
- With 240 acres of woodland, 10 public parks and five conservation areas there are plenty of opportunities to enjoy the great outdoors.
- Stevenage has 40km of cycleway, linking residential areas with all the local amenities and business districts.
- The town has all the advantages of living in an urban area but with easy access to the beautiful Hertfordshire countryside and its many visitor attractions
Alternative Energy / Environmental Issues
- Stevenage has excellent public transport networks and 40km of walking/cycle ways to enable those working and living here to travel sustainably.
- There are award-winning environmentally sustainable buildings within the main employment areas such as The Wine Society and the Fujitsu Data Centre.
- Award-winning homes at two neighbourhood centres – Cotney Croft and Peartree way – were completed in 2011 to the highest environmental credentials, meeting Code for Sustainable Homes levels 5 and 6.
