Harlow Council has completed the purchase of derelict land on Parnall Road to use as part of its major council housebuilding programme.
The council plans to use the land to build seven 3- storey, 3-bedroom town houses. All houses would be council-owned and allocated to Harlow families on the Housing Needs Register.
The land, on the corner of Risdens and Longbanks and opposite Stewards Academy, was formerly a builder’s merchant and offices but has been vacant since 2006. It is now overgrown and a fly-tipping hotspot.
The council made the decision to move ahead with the purchase of the land at its Cabinet meeting in January 2022.
Councillor Dan SwordsThe, Deputy Leader of Harlow Council, said:
“Buying this land – without borrowing any money – is a significant step forward for the regeneration of Staple Tye and will support our council housebuilding programme. Currently, this land is an eyesore and brings absolutely no benefit to the local community or the town. This purchase will change that and is a major boost to our house-building plans as it means we can build even more council homes to meet local housing need.
"The new council homes that we build here will be of the highest quality using the very latest technology to make them carbon neutral.
“Our housebuilding programme is all about building the right homes in the right places to the highest standards so that we can truly improve the lives of Harlow families. I would like to thank council staff who have worked hard to secure the purchase of this site."
The purchase has been funded using section 106 funds received by the council from the development on the former Churchgate Hotel site. This money was secured specifically for the provision of new affordable housing in the town.
Work is now taking place to confirm the plans for the development ahead of a planning application being submitted later this year. The council is also planning to build new homes in Staple Tye on the former Lister House site and the Staple Tye Depot on Perry Road.