Work has started on the first of 10 schemes as part of Harlow Council’s housebuilding programme which will see 103 new council homes built for Harlow families.
As part of the council’s priority to rebuild our town, phase one of the programme is now underway, with work beginning at 10 sites before Christmas. Seven of schemes already have planning approval with more schemes going to Development Management Committee this year.
Phase 1 schemes, which includes a total of 11 sites, will provide a mixture of houses, apartments, and bungalows to meet the different housing needs of residents with sites at:
- Arwrights – 8 houses
- The Yorkes – 6 bungalows
- Woodleys – 6 houses
- Perry Road (former Lister House site) – 24 apartments
- Staple Tye depot – 10 houses
- Parnall Road – 5 houses and 5 apartments
- Sherards House – 14 houses
- Pytt Field – 5 houses
- Potter Street Neighbourhood Office – 5 apartments
- Lower Meadow Garage site – 8 bungalows
- Elm Hatch – 6 apartments and 1 house
This week, work has started on the location of eight new, energy saving council homes at the first site, a disused garage area in Arkwrights. The three-bedroom homes are going to be put together using modern building methods and built off-site by Beattie Passive. They will feature high levels of insulation and solar panels for improved energy efficiency. All homes will also include allocated parking and electric vehicle charging points. The development will surround a central landscaped area, providing an improved link from Arkwrights to the existing community allotment gardens.
Work is now under way preparing the site in readiness for the homes to start being installed in spring, including preparing the site for utilities (water and electricity), as well as environmental and technical surveys. The project will be completed by autumn 2024. All homes will be allocated to Harlow families on Harlow’s Housing Needs Register.
Council Dan Swords, Leader of Harlow Council, and Councillor Michael Hardware, cabinet portfolio holder for economic development, visited the site on Monday as work got underway.
Councillor Dan Swords, leader of Harlow Council, said:
“We are delivering on our priority to rebuild our town and that includes with phase 1 of our Council House Building Programme. Before Christmas, we will be on site starting work on 103 new council homes for Harlow families and the work at Arkwrights represents the first of those schemes beginning.”
Councillor Michael Hardware, cabinet portfolio holder for economic development, added:
“This development will include electric vehicle charging points as well as energy saving measures to future-proof them for Harlow families on our Housing Needs Register. These vital features will help keep energy bills low for residents as we reduce our need for fossil fuels through renewable energy.
“The Arkwrights development isn’t just about building new council homes for Harlow families though; it is another area of our town being regenerated with this being a former disused garage block. The scheme includes a new landscaped area, providing better access for existing residents from Arkwrights to the existing community allotment gardens. We are regenerating neighbourhoods and restoring pride in our town, all with the aim of improving the lives of our residents.”