Harlow Council has officially objected to plans for the Latton Priory development, saying it does not believe the current proposals would deliver the improvements and investment the town needs.
An outline planning application for the proposed Latton Priory development, located on Harlow’s southern border within the Epping Forest District and for up to 1,340 homes, was submitted last October by Commercial Estates Projects Ltd and Hallam Land.
Consultation has been taking place since then. Harlow Council encouraged residents to engage with the application and secured an extension for the public to respond to it.
Harlow Council’s detailed, 13-page response explains that despite supporting the principle of development at Latton Priory in line with the Harlow and Gilston Garden Town initiative, having reviewed the plans it has a number of “substantial concerns”.
Its response outlines that if granted the application as submitted would have a detrimental impact on Harlow’s residents and place pressure on existing services and facilities in the district. It would fail to deliver the transport infrastructure needed to reduce the impact of the development on the road network, including local routes in Harlow such as Rye Hill Road and Junction 7 on the M11.
Harlow Council also highlighted a lack of funding for other infrastructure including enhancements to Harlow Town Station, bus service provision, indoor sports facilities, public art to support Harlow’s status as a Sculpture Town, libraries, Harlow Museum and for household waste and recycling facilities.
A lack of clarity and reassurance on providing the new healthcare and education facilities the development will need was also given as grounds for objecting to the application.
Councillor Alastair Gunn, Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Garden Town and Planning, said:
“When the Latton Priory planning application was submitted last year, I said we would review the application in detail and submit a formal response that focused on the needs of Harlow residents, and on securing the best possible outcome for the town as a whole. In objecting to this application, that is what we have done.
“This is not about opposing new housing developments on principle. Harlow needs to secure investment if we are to rebuild our town and renew our neighbourhoods. We can do that by supporting good quality, sustainable development proposals. For example, we’ve supported the Gilston villages development where, by working with our Garden Town partners, we helped secure £1.3 billion that will be invested into Harlow.
“Unfortunately, after carefully reviewing the Latton Priory application, we found several areas of concern. These will need to be addressed to secure our support for these plans to proceed.
“Latton Priory may not be within Harlow’s current district borders but if it does go ahead, it will very much be a part of our town. It cannot be a separate estate that adds nothing to Harlow beyond putting more pressure on our roads and public services.
“That is why we have formally objected to this application. We will now focus on seeking a better outcome for Harlow. We will be happy to work with our other Garden Town partners to help Epping Forest District Council and the applicants bring forward a scheme that we can support guided by our missions to secure investment for Harlow’s future, to rebuild our town and renew our neighbourhoods.”
