Hemel Evolution - Dacorum Borough Council

Hemel Evolution
Information Booklet
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JULY 2014
Hemel Hempstead town centre is
evolving….
Dacorum Borough Council is on schedule to deliver an exciting new
town centre with investment in excess of £30 million.
Regeneration is being delivered under the framework of the Hemel
Hempstead Town Centre Masterplan which identifies seven zones (see
below)
This leaflet summarises the major projects that have been recently
completed or are soon to be underway

The Old Town: Recently completed.

The Plough Zone: A new lighting scheme has recently being
completed on the roundabout.

Marlowes Shopping Zone, Pedestrian Shopping Area: Designs
completed and works on site due to commence Autumn 2014.

Marlowes Shopping Zone, Bank Court: Works to commence late
Spring 2015 as an extension to the Marlowes Shopping Zone works.

Marlowes Shopping Zone, Bus Interchange: Designs in progress,
works to commence Spring 2015.

Jellicoe Water Gardens: Works to commence Spring 2015.

Gade Zone Central: Public Service Quarter (PSQ) designs in
progress, works to commence Summer 2015. Housing expected to
start 2016

Gade Zone Northern: New college and housing expected to start
2016.

Gade Zone Southern: Market Square leisure redevelopment
expected to start 2016
We hope you are as excited as we are about
this programme of improvements and
believe they will make Hemel Hempstead an
even better place to work, live and enjoy.
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Marlowes Shopping Zone
Pedestrian Shopping Area
We are investing £3.5 million to transform the heart of Hemel
Hempstead’s shopping area into a unique place that offers something
for everyone and is vibrant during the day, evening and night. We
hope that the changes will attract more visitors, business and
investment and make it a place that people will want to visit over and
over again to shop, work, live and enjoy. Construction work is
expected to commence late summer/early autumn 2014.
By making physical improvements to the pedestrianised
area we want to create:
A central town square:
A space that defines the heart of
Marlowes and links to the Water Gardens.
The new square will be a social hub and
leisure attraction and will include a
performance area and interactive
fountain.
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A town within a park:
A line of trees along the
length of Marlowes shopping
area will bring nature, shade
and a space for relaxation.
A town for the future:
With a large screen display
and internet access.
Fun for children:
A series of unique play areas
beneath the trees including
an interactive fountain of
water jets.
Pictures for illustrative purposes only
An improved street market:
Market stalls down the centre of the Marlowes and around the food
court Including food and themed markets.
Public toilets:
Public toilets to serve the shopping area and new Bus Interchange.
A revived space: A fresh, clean new look with less clutter.
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Marlowes Shopping Zone
Bank Court
A key link between the Water Gardens, Town Centre car parks and
main shopping area:
Overlooking the Jellicoe Water
Gardens, Bank Court creates a key
pedestrian and visual link between
the main Marlowes shopping area
and the Jellicoe Water Gardens, one
of Hemel Hempstead’s key heritage
assets. The main changes to Bank
Court will be the relocation of 12
disabled bays to Waterhouse Street
and new paving and street furniture
to create an piazza style public
square.
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Marlowes Shopping Zone
Bus Interchange
The new Bus Interchange, which will be located on Marlowes and
Bridge Street will replace the current Bus Station in Market Square.
The new Bus Interchange has been designed and located to make the
town centre more accessible by public transport and make visiting
Hemel Hempstead an easy and pleasant experience. The taxi rank will
be relocated to Waterhouse Street which will also include formal
disabled parking and help improve the link between the Jellicoe Water
Gardens, Bank Court and the Marlowes shopping Zone.
Making bus travel easier:
The project will deliver a Bus Interchange providing easy access to the
town centre and will include new lighting, paving and shelters with real
time arrival/departure boards.
A dedicated space:
The project will introduce new traffic rules that will restrict access to
buses, cyclists and permit holders only. The current taxi rank will be
relocated to a new, larger rank on Waterhouse Street.
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Jellicoe Water Gardens
The Jellicoe Water Gardens are being restored through a £3.6 million
project supported by funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund / Big
Lottery Fund’s Parks for People Programme.
The Water Gardens were
designed by the landscape
architect Geoffrey Jellicoe as
part of his plans for Hemel
Hempstead New Town and
were completed in 1962. The
Gardens are an important
example of a post-war modernist landscape and a grade 2 registered
garden.
Through the restoration project, the Gardens will once again be a
special place that Hemel Hempstead can be proud of. Improvements
will include:
An important historic Garden:

a restored flower garden (opposite Bank Court) with colourful
displays inspired by the original planting scheme designed by Susan
Jellicoe
A space for all the community:

a new and exciting play area,
specially designed for the Gardens

access improvements to make it
easier for everyone to enjoy all of
the Gardens
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An area for learning and training:

a growing area with raised beds
and picnic tables, where
volunteers can pick up gardening
tips and help care for the Gardens

a striking new community building with facilities for the Friends of
Jellicoe Water Gardens, volunteers, school groups and learning
organisations to get involved in maintenance and environmental
tasks
A Garden for Hemel Hempstead Town Centre:

a widened terrace and restored lime avenue, with space for a coffee
kiosk and seating overlooking the play area and flower displays
A place for nature:

enhancements to the river to improve water quality and create a
better environment for fish

planting to encourage birds, bees and insects
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What we’ve done so far…
Old Town
Dacorum Borough Council, in
partnership with Herts County
Council recently completed the
regeneration of the Old Town
High Street. The sympathetic
improvements included designs to
highlight the conservation style of
this area and included York stone
and granite surface finishes,
improved street furniture and an
events space. The Old Town High
Street now operates a one-way system to improve accessibility by
reducing traffic congestion and increasing parking in the area.
The Plough Zone
This roundabout is an important
Dacorum landmark and gateway into
Hemel Hempstead. It recently
benefitted from lighting
improvements, which make it visually
more pleasing and a safer area to
navigate at night.
Source: Hemel Gazette
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Meet the Hemel Evolution team
Chris Taylor
Group Manager, Strategic Planning &
Regeneration
[email protected]
Nathalie Bateman
Team Leader, Strategic Planning &
Regeneration
[email protected]
Shalini Jayasinghe
Strategic Planning and Regeneration Officer
(Town Centre)
[email protected]
Claire Covington
Strategic Planning and Regeneration Officer
(Green Spaces)
[email protected]
Jo Deacon
Strategic Planning and Regeneration Officer
(Bus Interchange and Market Square)
[email protected]
Jacqui Sander
Community Engagement Officer
(Water Gardens)
[email protected]
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For more information please contact:
[email protected]
01442 228000
www.dacorum.gov.uk/hemelevolution
Hemel Evolution
Strategic Planning and Regeneration
Dacorum Borough Council
Hemel Hempstead Civic Centre
Marlowes
Hertfordshire
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