North Hertfordshire Council is seeking approval for additional funding to take the long-running Churchgate regeneration project into its next stage, with councillors told the scheme has now entered a more "mature and evidence-led" phase.

A report considered by Cabinet this week outlines significant progress since councillors last received a major update in July 2025, including work on parking, market provision, public realm, viability, governance and delivery options.

The regeneration project covers the Churchgate Shopping Centre, Hitchin Market and surrounding town centre land. The council says the aim is to create a mixed-use development featuring new homes, improved public spaces, commercial opportunities and a revitalised market area.

Council officers say the next phase will involve bringing in specialist regeneration and development experts to help refine proposals, test viability in greater detail and reduce uncertainty before any long-term delivery partner is appointed.

The report states that early engagement with developers and investors has shown "strong market interest" in the Hitchin opportunity and increased confidence in the project's prospects.

Among the key issues examined over the past year have been car parking capacity, market viability, community space requirements, public realm improvements, planning considerations and potential delivery models.

The council acquired the Churchgate Shopping Centre leasehold in 2022, arguing that the current configuration of the 1970s development is unlikely to provide a commercially sustainable long-term future. The authority believes regeneration could improve links across the town centre, strengthen connections to the River Hiz and help secure Hitchin's future vitality.

The proposed timeline would see further feasibility and delivery testing carried out before a competitive procurement process begins. A development partner could then be selected before planning and pre-development work takes place.

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The exact amount of additional funding being requested is contained within a confidential Part 2 report and will be considered by councillors separately. Cabinet is recommending that Full Council approves the extra funding at its meeting in July.

The project has also been discussed in the context of Local Government Reorganisation, with officers acknowledging that future shadow authorities could have oversight of major spending decisions. However, councillors were told there is no reason why the scheme should not continue to progress if current milestones are met.

During scrutiny discussions, some councillors expressed concern about rising costs and the risk of committing increasing amounts of taxpayer money to the project, while others argued that investing now would help ensure the council is in the strongest possible position before future planning decisions are taken.