A topping out ceremony has marked a major milestone in the development of Claxton House in Stevenage - one of the flagship projects within the SG1 masterplan that is set to transform Stevenage Town Centre.
Formerly known as Swingate House, the newly named Claxton House pays tribute to Eric Claxton, a key figure in the creation of Stevenage New Town through his work with the Stevenage Development Corporation. Once complete, the ten‑storey development will provide 261 much‑needed new homes and a ground‑floor commercial unit in the heart of the town.
The wider SG1 regeneration will deliver new homes, jobs, office and retail space, as well as high‑quality public areas. Early works benefitted from multi‑million‑pound Growth Deal funding secured by Hertfordshire Futures (formerly Hertfordshire LEP).
Cllr Richard Henry, Leader of Stevenage Borough Council, commented: “This milestone reiterates a clear commitment from both the council and our partners in the ongoing transformation of the town. This 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 are proud of how Stevenage is evolving and look forward to the next phases of the wider SG1 masterplan beginning”.
Adrian Hawkins OBE, Chair of Hertfordshire Futures and Chair of Stevenage Development Board, added:“I am delighted to see that one of our Mace projects related to our first SG1 regeneration projects area in the town is now starting to take shape. As Chair of the Stevenage Development Board, it is great to see so many projects now physically taking place and hopefully this is further confirmation to our residents and businesses that Stevenage is evolving into the 21st century. We are committed to many exciting changes during our regeneration programme and Claxton House has progressed extremely well this past 12 months.”
Mark Reynolds, Mace Group Executive Chair, says: “The delivery of these high quality, safe and sustainable new homes mark a meaningful step in shaping the new town centre that people are proud to call home. Their delivery demonstrates the strength of our long-term partnership with Stevenage Borough Council and the shared ambition that is driving genuine regeneration across the town.
“As these homes come to market, we remain focused on the wider programme that will create new opportunities for residents and businesses while supporting the continued transformation of Stevenage for years to come.”
Damien McKenna, Contracts Manager at Gilbert Ash, added: “This Topping Out ceremony is a momentous milestone for Gilbert-Ash and all parties involve, and one which celebrates the team’s involvement in developing the structure to this stage. This accomplishment is the result of seamless collaboration across design, delivery, and quality, supported by a highly skilled workforce and a management team dedicated to excellence.
"This milestone underscores our shared vision and determination to deliver outstanding results for stakeholders and the wider Stevenage community.”
It is great to see so many projects now physically taking place and hopefully this is further confirmation to our residents and businesses that Stevenage is evolving into the 21st century.
