A car park in Stevenage town centre is set to close for at least two years, to facilitate the building of a new housing development.

Swingate car park will be closed from Monday, October 7, and will be used as a site compound during the development of the neighbouring Swingate House site.

The access road, located between the site and acting as the entrance to the car park, will also be closed and will move slightly as part of the works.

The Swingate House site development will deliver 261 new homes and a ground floor café unit, and forms part of the wider SG1 masterplan for the town centre.

The car park will reopen when the new development has been built and will have improved lighting and better access, Stevenage Borough Council says.

Alternative parking provision in the town includes St George’s Way multi-storey car park.

Councillor Richard Henry, leader of Stevenage Borough Council, said: "The SG1 masterplan will be transformative for Stevenage, and is a key part of the next stage of the town centre regeneration story to continue to deliver a thriving town for people to live, work and visit.

"We understand that there will be a level of frustration that the car park has to close, and we would like to reassure residents and visitors to the town that there is alternative parking provision across a number of other car parks."

Information on car parks in Stevenage can be found at stevenage.gov.uk/find-a-car-park.