The redevelopment of Elm Hatch is due to commence in January following planning approval given this week.
Councillors approved plans for the project, which is part of Harlow Council’s first phase of its council housebuilding scheme to 103 homes to Harlow families, at Wednesday’s (6 December) Development Management Committee.
The Elm Hatch development, which includes the derelict Hummingbird pub site and will see the demolition of the existing retail units there, will include six flats (a one-bedroom and five two-bedroom) and a three-bedroom, wheelchair accessible family home in addition to new retail space. There will be six parking spaces installed for the flats and two for the house, including one accessible space.
The council worked closely with the Waterhouse Moor Residents’ Association to bring forward this new improved scheme for the area. The planning application for the scheme, which sits within the Netteswellbury conservation area, followed public consultation and a great deal of input from residents and organisations, whose feedback was integral to the original plans for the area being sensitively and significantly revised.
All six homes on the development will be allocated to Harlow families on the council’s Housing Needs Register. The new retail space will be built before the current retail space is demolished to allow the existing business to continue trading during the redevelopment.
Work is due to start on site in January on the site which has been vacant since the Hummingbird Pub was demolished many years ago.
Commenting on the planning approval, Councillor Dan Swords, Leader of Harlow Council, said:
“This particular scheme is the result of eighteen months of hard work and consultation with the Waterhouse Moor Residents’ Association, who have been so important in helping to get us to this stage and I want to sincerely thank them for their valuable input.
“We can now move forward with the construction of these much-needed homes for Harlow families and the transformation of the area. As with all the other council homes we are building across Harlow, these new homes will be built to a very high standard in terms of construction and design quality, and the addition of new retail space will mean that the local shop can remain in the area for the benefit of residents.
“We are yet again delivering on our priority to rebuild our town and I am looking forward to seeing spades in the ground at this important development which will transform the neighbourhood.”
