Harlow Council has completed its 1,000th new residential parking space as part of its ambitious Open Parking Programme. This is a major milestone in the council’s work to improve accessibility, reduce congestion and renew neighbourhoods across the town.
The programme was launched to tackle long‑standing parking pressures in housing estates. It focuses on opening up underused and neglected areas, converting poor‑quality informal parking spots, and creating hundreds of new free bays to make parking safer and more reliable for residents.
This latest milestone forms part of a series of upgrades delivered over the past year, following the creation of 500 new spaces in the previous year.
Celebrating the milestone, Councillor David Carter, Cabinet Member for Housing, said:
“Reaching our 1,000th new parking space shows the scale of our investment in improving residential parking across the town. This programme is about giving residents the convenience, safety and peace of mind they’ve been asking for.
“I’m pleased to announce that not only have we reached our 1,000‑space target - but we will also exceed it by 31 March. From Abbotsweld to Orchard Croft to Willowfield we have created literally thousands of new free parking spaces.
“The lack of parking spaces and inconsiderate parking is one of the most common concerns raised by residents. That’s why we continue to create more and more spaces. While this won’t solve every problem, it is a significant improvement programme and another example of how we are renewing our neighbourhoods and Building Harlow’s Future.”