Harlow Council has unveiled a record-breaking Budget 2026 that delivers the largest ever investment in council housing, demonstrating its commitment to the mission to ‘invest in our housing’ as part of the Building Harlow’s Future plan.
The council’s proposed £350 million budget for 2026/27 includes £179 million for council homes and housing services. This represents a 31% increase in overall housing investment compared with last year’s budget and is 137% higher than in 2021/22.
Revenue spending for housing services is rising to £68 million while capital investment which funds upgrades to existing council homes and the building of new council homes is rising to £111 million.
- This record-breaking investment will enable the council to build on its recent progress including:
Cutting the standard repair time by 90% and achieving the lowest outstanding number of repairs on record. - Invested a record £51 million to upgrade existing council homes in 2025/26.
Built more new council homes than in the past 30 years combined. - Transformed HTS, removing over £1 million from senior management costs to reinvest it into improving the repairs service.
- Embedding a new Housing Allocations Policy to ensure Harlow homes are for Harlow people.
The budget proposal is fully funded and sustainable with no cuts to services, no unidentified savings and no shortfalls.
Commenting on the record investment, Councillor David Carter, Cabinet Member for Housing, said:
“This is investment on a scale Harlow has simply never seen before. It will right the wrongs of decades of underinvestment into council homes and make a dramatic different for council tenants.
“Every pound we are investing is about giving Harlow families the safe, modern, and secure homes they deserve. We are transforming existing properties, building new council homes for the next generation, and raising standards right across our housing stock.
“Building Harlow’s Future means putting housing at the heart of our plans – and this record investment shows we are delivering on that promise with ambition, confidence, and pride.”
The Budget 2026 proposals continue the council’s strategic approach to long-term regeneration and financial stability, ensuring sustained investment in housing while supporting wider improvements across the town.