Introduction to Harlow

Harlow has recently celebrated its 75^th anniversary and, as a New Town, Sir Fredrick Gibberd brought much innovation and new principles of planning, design, construction detailing and an emphasis on building communities for those looking for new, modern housing and moving out of London.

We are uniquely placed to benefit from a number of opportunities for growth; aligned to the East of England, on the West Essex/East Herts border, gateway to the M11 corridor, transport interchanges with Stansted Airport, the M11 motorway, high-speed rail direct to London and proximity to the Central Line underground.

Significant regeneration of redundant manufacturing sites has led to a transformative tech-based hubs, life-sciences, retail and service sector investment. Housing development continues at pace, and the planning for Gilston Garden Town to the north of Harlow is the next key phase, with Harlow as the economic hub. Developments eastwards to the M11, south to Latton Priory and onto North Weald, as well as westward to Nazeing will provide the housing necessary for the jobs being created.

This is truly a holistic approach, with the Leader of Harlow Council setting out the five priorities for the next year, acting as the foundations to put the town on the road to a brighter future and make Harlow a better place to live, work, raise a family and start a business.

The priorities are:

• Clearing the backlog in housing repairs.
• Better street scene; maintenance, car parking, fixing potholes, street signs and street furniture.
• Rebuild our town with a once-in-a-generation programme of regeneration.
• Secure investment into Harlow to improve our infrastructure and create opportunities.
• Improve council services and make them more efficient and effective.

This is not the target, this is the foundation, and a new 2024-2028 Corporate Strategy is also being developed with an independent survey of residents and businesses will be carried out in the summer, so they are at the heart of the new strategy.

Each year Harlow Council invests £millions in replacement Decent Home elements, asbestos and MEP compliance requirements, fire and building safety improvements, thermal efficiency and energy reduction strategies, and external refurbishments of the building fabric. We research the sector’s best practise to assist with reliable decision making, so that the procurement and delivery of the projects and programmes provides demonstrable ‘value’ and ensure we lay the foundations for the key principles of good asset management.

The Housing & Property Operations (HOPs) team administer the largest capital and revenue budgets of the Council. Our diverse team of professionals and support staff work closely together to maintain, improve and even develop new assets within both the Housing and Non-housing property portfolio, together with key external consultants and specialist advisors, Framework providers and legal, procurement, Planning and Building Control colleagues across the Council.