Spotlight

ST ALBANS CIVIC SOCIETY AWARDS

This is a second reminder that 2026 is an Awards year when St Albans Civic Society celebrates imaginative development and design initiatives which have been completed within the city in the previous two years. This means it’s time to start to think what you’ve noticed that’s impressed you and to get ready to share details for the shortlisting team to review. We’ll be looking for projects that contribute to the preservation and enhancement of the character of St Albans, and that achieve the highest standards of architecture, planning, landscaping and civic design. We’re going to be interested in new build and restoration projects and anything that enhances the quality of our city’s amenities, environment or public realm. You can review previous prize-winners and shortlisted projects on our Awards page.

Save our city update

On 23 February we completed the second stage of a Community Governance Review (CGR) on whether to set up a city council (parish/town council) for central St Albans. The Civic Society is in favour of this and worked to publicise details, share information and set up public meetings. The push has been to ensure local representation when our district and council councils are merged into a unitary authority and our Save Our City campaign has had major impact. Positive responses from residents more than doubled compared to the first stage.

Results will be considered by SADC’s Strategy and Resources Committee on 23 June 2026. In preparation for the next stages, the Civic Society is working with local groups, residents and councillors and carrying out preliminary research and work. The team’s focus is on ensuring St Albans retains its role as a vibrant historic city with a strong local democratic voice.

CIVIC ROSE GARDEN RESTORATION PROJECT

The Civic Rose Garden is tucked away behind buildings fronting St Peter’s Street and between Hatfield Road and the Civic Centre. The Civic Society helped support the restoration project and it continues apace. Thanks to the team of volunteers who have been transforming it, the Rose Garden is a place of calm and beauty, with bulbs in flower and lots of signs that we’re entering spring and that the garden is bursting into life. New volunteers and donations of funds and plants are always welcomed and if you’re interested in helping, just send an email to garden.regeneration@gmail.com.