Churchgate Project - Timeline and Next Steps
The timeline below demonstrates how the proposals for the redevelopment of Churchgate have reached their current stage. This is a simplified timeline showing the major steps taken and does not detail every stage that the project will need to go through.
All background information supporting each entry into the timeline up to the public exhibition and including feedback from the exhibition is available to view on the Churchgate Project webpages.
Churchgate Project Timeline - updated 16th August 2010
Production of Hitchin Town Centre Strategy (2004)
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Preparation and Adoption of Churchgate Planning Brief (2005)
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Procurement of Development Partner (Started May 2008)
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Appointment of Simons as Development Partner (March 2010)
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Public Exhibition of Simons Tender Scheme (18th May to 5th June 2010)
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(Current Stage) On-going Consultation with Stakeholders
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Work up Scheme Proposals
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Further Public Exhibition
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Preparation of Planning Application
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Submission of Planning Application
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Possible Grant of Planning Permission then complying with Conditions
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Appointment of Sub-contractors
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Construction starts on site
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Scheme opens
Details of Current Stage:
Following the feedback from the public exhibition, Simons' are now progressing their meetings and discussions with key stakeholders in relation to specific issues of interest so that stakeholders which have the potential to affect the scheme design proposal. This includes:
- The Churchgate Liaison forum, plus attending various meetings of the organisations represented on the Forum
- Interested landowners
- Representatives from St.Mary's Church
- Churchgate retailers
- The operators and traders of Hitchin Market
- Local resident amenity groups
- Hertfordshire Highways
- English Heritage
It is important for Simons to get a better idea of what Hitchin would like to see out of the Churchgate redevelopment, and are willing to work together with local businsses and residents in progressing a scheme. Outcomes from these meetings will be taken into consideration by Simons' as they progress and work up their scheme proposals for the Churchgate Project prior to the submission of a planning application.
During this period Simons' will also start their pre-submission discussions with the Local Planning Authority as well as meeting and negotiating with potential retailers and other commercial interests likely to be involved in the project.
Feedback and updates from various meetings and how these have contributed to the evolution of the design will be discussed under various topics at the Churchgate Liaison Forum meetings.
The above will all be carried out prior to the preparation of the planning application in order to shape the scheme which is submitted.
