Best New Car Park: Railway North Car Park, Stevenage

British Parking Awards 2023

Stevenage Borough Council’s new Railway North car park features electric vehicle chargepoints and makes provision for cycle parking.

The car park is a central element of the Station Gateway project. It is both an architectural celebration of the new town, and a pioneering example of sustainability by providing a central transfer point from private to public transport.

The multi-storey car park was delivered by contractor HUBER car park systems UK working with Fatkin Architects. The car park received funding from the government’s Towns Fund. Stevenage Development Board secured £37.5m, the second joint highest bid in the country. Some £1.1m was contributed as part of the multi-million pound Growth Deal funding secured by Hertfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership for Stevenage regeneration.

Opened in May 2023, the car park provides 622 spaces, including spaces for electric vehicle charging and Blue Badge parking. There are no columns for ease of manoeuvring and dynamic space counting and ticketless parking management with camera recognition offer convenience and CCTV security. The Railway North car park is the first in Hertfordshire to receive the Park Mark Plus accreditation.

A total of 80 bicycle bays are provided in a separate building that acts as a gateway to the project, and there are 27 motorbike parking spaces. The mix of modes on offer means the development is also referred to as the ‘Stevenage Mobility Hub’. The car park and cycle hub both feature solar panels to aid its sustainability.

The car park’s façade marks the entrance to the town from the railway station by celebrating the achievements of Stevenage in the fields of science and technology. The railway-facing west elevation of the car park features a montage of space exploration and scientific images, whilst the town-facing east elevation features a range of human silhouettes and the town’s motto: “The heart of a town lies in its people.”

Cllr Richard Henry, leader of Stevenage Borough Council, says: “The Railway North car park has been judged as being best in class and through its bold design marks not only the scientific milestones that have come from the town but also creates a real welcome to Stevenage. We are meeting the expectations of consumers in the modern day and providing for the future with a car park with experience and usability at its heart, which includes dedicated secure cycle parking.”

Cllr Lloyd Briscoe, executive member for economy and transport, adds: “This facility provides an enhanced user experience, contributing a sustainable travel hub which offers people choices as to how they can travel. We are strengthening what the town has to offer, enhancing the welcome to visitors, encouraging businesses to expand and supporting communities across Hertfordshire.”

Adrian Hawkins OBE, chair of Stevenage Development Board and chair of Hertfordshire LEP, says: “The Stevenage Development Board is delivering a visionary regeneration programme supported by a diverse range of stakeholders including the LEP, to transform the town into a vibrant and thriving STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) hub.”

Markus Lauble, managing director, HUBER car park systems UK, says: “Right from the start of this project, we enjoyed a positive, open and transparent working partnership with Stevenage Borough Council, and are delighted that the end product proved to be an award-winning mobility hub we can all be extremely proud of.”