Research Catalog

Stevenage : pioneering new town centre

Title
Stevenage : pioneering new town centre / Emily Cole with Elain Harwood, Edward James.
Author
Cole, Emily
Publication
Swindon : Historic England, 2021.

Items in the Library & Off-site

Filter by

1 Item

StatusFormatAccessCall NumberItem Location
TextUse in library DA690.S83 C65 2021gOff-site

Holdings

Details

Additional Authors
  • Harwood, Elain
  • James, Edward, 1987-
Description
ix, 161 pages : illustrations (some color), maps, plans; 21 x 21 cm.
Summary
This book charts the history of Stevenage new town centre, looking at its planning, development, design influences, significance and survival. The historic market town of Stevenage was the first location to be designated for major expansion under the New Towns Act 1946, making it Britain's first post-war new town. As part of this a new town centre was planned from 1946. Informed by the ideas of figures including Gordon Stephenson and Clarence Stein, among the leading planners of their day, the detailed design of this area was undertaken in the 1950s by Stevenage Development Corporation, under Chief Architect Leonard Vincent. The shopping precinct, with surrounding car parks and bus station, was built first, begun in earnest in 1956 and officially opened in April 1959. Its design is notable: the fully pedestrian precinct is one of the earliest examples of this kind of development in Britain and on a scale unequalled in Europe at the time of its initiation. The shopping precinct, designated as a conservation area in 1988, is notable for its uniformity, integrity and level of survival. Provision was also made in the town centre for offices, community, entertainment and public buildings, which will be discussed in this book, along with expansion works undertaken in the 1960s and '70s.
Series Statement
Informed Conservation
Uniform Title
Informed conservation.
Subject
  • 1900-1999
  • Urban renewal > Stevenage
  • Rénovation urbaine > Stevenage
  • Urban renewal
  • Stevenage (England) > History > 20th century
  • England > Stevenage
Genre/Form
  • History.
  • Informational works.
  • Illustrated works.
ISBN
  • 9781800855991
  • 1800855990
LCCN
99990635023
OCLC
  • on1272896011
  • 1272896011
Owning Institutions
Columbia University Libraries