The next round of public consultation for the regeneration of the Churchgate shopping area in Hitchin has launched today (Monday).

Based in the heart of the town centre, overlooking Market Place, the site extends to over five acres and includes the 1970’s Churchgate Shopping Centre, the 800-year-old open-air charter market, four car parks and associated service yards.

North Herts Council is the site owner and says the consultation is "a unique opportunity for everyone across the district and beyond to take part in shaping the transformation of the Churchgate shopping area of Hitchin into a vibrant and welcoming hub that reflects the needs and desires of the community".

This latest round of consultation builds on community feedback already received in February 2023.

The council said the feedback from the consultations will be used to create a "collective vision" for the regeneration of the Churchgate shopping area, which will "help the council to find the most appropriate development team to deliver the communities’ priorities and objectives for the future of Hitchin town centre".

Steve Crowley, service director – enterprise at North Herts Council, said: "We are excited to be moving forward with our consultation to seek our communities’ views on the future of the Churchgate shopping area of Hitchin. It is vital that any development honours the wishes of communities and respects the history of Hitchin.

"This amazing opportunity provides significant potential to revitalise the market, enhance the river Hiz and create new walkways along its edge, improve the connections and pedestrian links between the site and the rest of Hitchin, and provide a diverse, attractive and viable mix of commercial, cultural, arts and community facilities, as well as a range of town centre living.

"We look forward to reviewing your feedback so we can better understand the collective vision for the future of our beautiful market town."

To take part in the consultation, you can visit the project team at the Churchgate Regeneration Hub in Market Place, which will be open from 10am to 6pm on Tuesday, Friday and Saturday this week and next week. 

You can also have your say by filling in an online survey at north-herts.gov.uk/churchgate.  

Should you need the survey in an alternative format, and for any other enquiries, email churchgate.regen@north-herts.gov.uk.

The council says it will summarise and share the feedback and key comments from the consultation in November and December, using the information to agree the vision and preferred pathway for the delivery of the Churchgate Regeneration Zone.

Next year, the council says it will appoint a development team. Then, in 2025/26, it aims to work in partnership with the selected development team to prepare a masterplan, which will be subject to further consultation with the community and key stakeholders.

Following this next round of consultation, any necessary amendments will be made to the masterplan and a planning application will be prepared.