Plans for the construction of new homes at the Kenilworth Close development in Stevenage have been altered after feedback from residents.

Previously, Stevenage Borough Council had been planning to demolish 38 homes at Walpole Court and replace them with 60 flats, but they have now submitted an application to construct 24 larger homes on the site instead.

The 24 homes on the new site would be a mixture of three and four-bedroom properties. They would be put up for sale at market rates, with the funds used to cover the costs of the wider Kenilworth Close development.

Walpole Court is currently a sheltered living development, and everybody living in its 32 flats and six bungalows will be moved to newly-built independent living homes elsewhere in the Kenilworth Close development.

Those homes were built as part of phase one, which began in 2019 and has seen the construction of 31 houses, 57 flats, 88 independent living homes, seven shops and a new indoor community space.

Phase two, which includes the rebuilding of Walpole Court, was originally consulted on in 2018 and originally included plans for 60 flats and a new community centre to replace the one which closed in 2018.

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The council has been running a public consultation since the end of last year, which has had more than 450 responses. An overwhelming majority - 87 per cent - preferred 24 'family houses' to be built rather than 60 homes that would mainly be flats.

The consultation, which is open until this summer, also asks about a new community centre.

The council stated: "Originally, the A602 site was proposed to be a community centre. There were mixed reviews on this proposal due to the site being isolated and close to highway junctions. The community association also folded in 2018.

"There will be a central community venue available for hire, launching in April 2024, where residents can meet in a convenient place to organise local activities and priorities. Once we see how this space is being used, it will help inform where a new centre is needed."

The consultation asks respondents what they think the best use of the site would be, with options including a community centre, a GP surgery, a dentist, wildlife space, or remaining open green space.

Currently, the most popular option by some distance, with 50 per cent selecting it, is for the site to remain open green space.

A spokesperson for Stevenage Borough Council said that after the consultation closes, the results "as well as information on how the community space launched in April 2024 is being used, will help to shape the long term decision for the future of the land" where the community centre may be located.

They said that residents will know "later this year" whether or not there will be plans to build a community centre.