Ambitious plans for the major regeneration of Harlow Town Centre are set for a major boost with the agreement of a masterplan which will help to inform developers and guide planning decisions for the town centre.
The town centre planning framework, which is set to be adopted at the council’s Cabinet meeting on 24 March 2022, is the first step of a new three-part plan to drive forward the much-needed regeneration and transformation of Harlow Town Centre.
Step 2 in autumn 2022 will be the production of a brief to attract a development partner to work with the council.
The final step in spring 2023 will be the procurement and engagement of a development partner to deliver an agreed Town Centre development programme.
The development of the final planning framework follows public consultation. The document provides a strong planning framework for the town centre to direct and shape how the town centre is regenerated by guiding planning applications that come forward to the council.
Councillor Dan Swords, Cabinet Member for Regeneration, said:
“Approving the town centre masterplan may seem like a small step, but it is a very significant first step in regenerating Harlow’s town centre in the way we want to. We have also set out the next two steps that we will take to completely regenerate the town centre. Our new three-step plan shows that we are absolutely committed to regenerating the town centre and also how it will be done.
“As we have laid out in our corporate strategy, we want the town centre to be thriving as one of the best places in the country to enjoy high-end retail, leisure, hospitality, arts and culture including a night-time and residential economy and an excellent quality of environment and public spaces.
“This masterplan will be step one of three to bring these plans to life and the council has a clear plan to deliver the town centre’s regeneration.”
