A Stevenage councillor has refused to guarantee that a new community centre will be built in Bragbury End.

At a meeting of Stevenage Borough Council (SBC) on Wednesday, October 18, Cllr Adam Mitchell asked Cllr Sandra Barr whether she could reassure residents that the previous centre, closed in 2018, will be replaced.

Cllr Barr, executive member for co-operative council and neighbourhood communities, responded that she "can't promise" anything on the community centre.

However, she did guarantee that the shops, community space and café at the Kenilworth Close development will be delivered.

The previous community centre was demolished alongside several retail units to make way for the development, which will include 236 homes when it is completed.

Planning permission for a new centre was granted by SBC in 2018, but has now lapsed as it required development to begin within three years.

In response to written questions from a member of the public, Cllr Jeannette Thomas, executive member for housing, stated that she is "pleased with progress of the regeneration of Kenilworth Close".

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She confirmed that the scheme will provide five new retail shops - set to open in February or March 2024 - as well as a café and hairdressers.

Cllr Barr added that a new "community space", which will be available for residents to book, will hopefully be ready by April or May.

She said that the second phase of the project, which includes more housing and the community centre, will be the focus after the shops and community space have opened.

But she cautioned that "given the length of time that has passed since the community was consulted at the start of the project", another public consultation will be needed before construction work on phase two begins.

In 2019, Cllr Thomas said it was hoped that building work on Kenilworth Close would "commence early in 2020", with a four-year project completed in two phases of two years each.

Phase one includes the construction of 176 homes alongside the retail premises, with a further 60 homes set to be built in phase two.