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With many nationwide Town Centre improvement and redevelopment schemes being shelved at the moment because of the depressed financial situation, the world’s first Garden City has ‘bucked the trend’ and has just completed the first phase of its Town centre revitalisation plans.

The £8m Street Scene scheme - fully funded by Letchworth Garden City Heritage Foundation - and constructed by leading international construction company Skanska – was officially opened on Friday, June 18, by Stuart Kenny, the Foundation’s Director General.

To complement the Town Centre improvement works, the Heritage Foundation has embarked on a continuing programme of refurbishing or re-instating a number of shop frontages.

This image shows just one example of how restoring shop frontages can make such a difference to the quality of the shopping environment. Pictured are two retail units in Leys Avenue, ‘Past and Present’ and ‘Shoe Box,’ following completion of the works. The old squire’s Dairy used to occupy this site.

Serenity Day Spa, formerly found at 6-9 The Gallery, has moved to new premises at 63 Station Road.

Come and experience the beauty salon with a difference. All the regular beauty treatments plus a spa experience, at affordable prices and at a convenient in-town location.

Opening Times
Monday 10am – 7pm
Tuesday 9:30am – 9pm
Wednesday 9:30am – 7:30pm
Thursday 9:30am – 9pm
Friday 9:30am – 7pm
Saturday 9am – 6pm

To make an appointment, telephone 01462 686999

Welcome to Totz to Teenz, recently opened at 19 The Wynd, selling a unique range of fashion for young people of all ages.

This children's wear retailer adds to the fantastic mix of independent retailers already in The Wynd and across the Garden City.

The Foundation has agreed terms with Packington Estate Enterprises Ltd on a 150 year long leasehold letting of the former Opalion Plastics site in Works Road.  Comprising approximately one acre, planning permission has been granted for the construction of five new business units totalling 18,760 sq ft.  These will be available on long leases, bringing new industry and new jobs to the Garden City

The Arcade announces Sunday opening for Christmas

Following on from the recent refurbment and re-opening celebrations, The Acade retailers are in the mood for Christmas.

From now until Christmas the Arcade will be open seven days a week with Sunday opening between 10am and 4pm. With a great mix of shops The Arcade is the perfect destination for Christmas shopping.

Abacus Travel
Flights & holidays

Afro Elegance
Hair & Beauty

As preparations continue for the major redevelopment of The Wynd in 2011, the opportunity has arisen to welcome a number of new retailers to the area.

With long-term tenants now relocated to other premises in the town, new 'short-term' space has been made available. This space is perfect for 'business start-ups' looking to test the market without the pressure of a long term commitment.

Introducing...

AMT Tools & Discount Store (The Hardware Shop), 2 The Wynd 
A DIY and hardware store.

The £500,000 makeover of this special landmark in the world’s first Garden City’s has been declared open.

A large number of people gathered to mark the occasion in this popular indoor shopping precinct, on Friday, November 20.

Stuart Kenny, Director General of the Heritage Foundation, along with Hugh Harper, until recently the Chairman of Letchworth Garden City Town Centre Partnership, unveiled a commemorative plaque on the entrance from Leys Avenue.

A special landmark in the world’s first Garden City has just received a £500,000 makeover!

In 1996, the Heritage Foundation bought the popular indoor shopping precinct The Arcade in the heart of the town centre and undertook a major refurbishment the following year, which included a new roof, repainting, a new entrance out to The Wynd and improved signage.

Now, some 13 years on and with The Arcade having a direct link to the proposed new Wynd re-development, the facelift was completed this week.

Eight Friends, One SongPod, 2,000 tracks, 10 fun-packed minutes of song

The SongPod has landed in the centre of Letchworth Garden City, perfect for a sing song and a laugh with your friends. 

The SongPod is a state of the art Karaoke room with LCD screens, wireless microphones and comfortable seating.

Budding vocalists can choose from 2,000 titles featuring all the latest songs from artists such as Alexandra Burke, Black Eyed Peas and Cheryl Cole, plus all time classics from Abba, Michael Jackson and many more.

Letchworth Garden City's £8m Street Scene Improvement works are progressing so well, it is hoped that the scheme will be finished early, in April rather than May 2010.

Following discussions with retailers and the Town Centre Partnership the ‘break’ for the Christmas trading period has been shortened by about two weeks. Works will stop around 16 November and re-start 4 January 2010. During the shutdown both Eastcheap and Leys Avenue will be open to traffic.

Letter to the Editor of The Comet Newspaper, published 8 October 2009.

At a time when The Comet is running its admirable ‘Buy Local’ campaign, which the Foundation supports, I am disappointed that Louise McEvoy chooses to speculate that Letchworth residents who wish to retain the four trees in Leys Square might boycott local shops.

Letter to editor of The Comet newspaper, published 8th October 2009.

Dear Sir

I think it is disgraceful that the Heritage Foundation’s Director General Stuart Kenny should be singled out for attack through graffiti and in the columns of your newspaper.

The second phase in the world’s first Garden City’s regeneration of its town centre has taken a major step forward.

Against the backcloth of the national economic downturn, Letchworth Garden City Heritage Foundation commissioned Skanska for an £8m contract to construct vital Street Scene Improvement works in the town centre as a pre-curser to the next phase and as part of its commitment to regenerate major parts of the town centre.