Stevenage Borough Council has been actively working to improve and refurbish its council-owned garage blocks across the town. These efforts include actions aligned with climate objectives, focusing on building resilience against climate change and contributing towards climate mitigation.
Homes /
HO4Garages refurbishment and improvement programmes
Progress
On time
- Discussion
- Not started
- Initial scoping
- Planning stage
- Underway
- Completed
Description
Stevenage Borough Council owns approximately 3,500 garages. These garages are available for rent to residents and Council tenants, providing valuable storage and parking solutions across the town.
However, poorly maintained buildings or structures can be vulnerable to climate change. Extreme weather, such as prolonged heatwaves, intense rainfall, or storm, can accelerate the deterioration of these unmaintained structures and increase the risk of severe damages.
The refurbishment of garages also contributes to the Council's climate mitigation efforts. By upgrading these structures, the Council can incorporate energy-efficient materials and technologies, reducing their overall carbon footprint, lowering energy consumption, and promoting sustainable practices.
Since 2018, the council has refurbished/rebuilt garage blocks across the town to improve standards and build climate resilience under the Garages Refurbishment Programme (stevenage.gov.uk), which has now been completed.
Building on the previous efforts, the Council is now developing a new garage strategy, to further enhance the functionality and sustainability of the garage blocks.
Tasks
What are we doing?
- 04/2025
SBC Garages Strategy
What has been done?
- 31/08/2024
Garages Refurbishment Programme
From November 2018 to August 2024, the Council delivered a £10 million programme to refurbish council owned garage blocks across the town. The work carried out varied from block to block, and depended on a detailed survey done at each site. However, the main elements included in the works included:
- Roofs
- Garage doors
- Structural repairs and alterations
- External redecoration
- Door numbering
- Block signage
- Concrete hard standings
- Solar lighting
The Council regularly review garage blocks and these works focused on those that were more than 30% vacant. The specific garages refurbished through this programme are located at:
- Angle Ways
- Buckthorn Avenue
- Elm Walk
- Gonville Crescent
- Grace Way
- Leslie Close
- Shephall Green
- Sisson Close (New Build)
- Scarborough Avenue
- Collenswood Road
- Mackenzie Square
- Hillmead
Summary and contacts
Timeline
04/2018 →
Responsible organisations
Portfolio Holder
Strategic Themes
Engagement type
Information updated 06/01/2025
The Council's garages strategy is currently being developed, aimed to be approved in spring 2025.