The first bricks have been laid in Harlow Council’s housebuilding programme with local apprentices helping to build brand new council homes for Harlow families.
Building work is underway at three housebuilding sites in Staple Tye, known as the Staple Tye Renewal Scheme. This renewal scheme will provide a total of 44 high-quality new council homes for Harlow families. This forms one part of the Council’s wider housebuilding programme which has an ambition to deliver hundreds of new homes for Harlow families. The three sites are:
- Perry Road (the former Lister House) – 24 council apartments comprising a mix of one-bedroom and two-bedroom homes, along with new commercial space and high-quality amenity space
- Former Staple Tye council depot – 10 council houses (five 2-bedroom and five 3-bedroom)
- Parnall Road - a mixture of five council flats and five 3-bedroom council houses
All homes will be allocated to Harlow residents on the Harlow Housing Needs Register.
Construction of all homes is being handled by the Hill Group, which along with Harlow Council is an equal partner in the Harlow Regeneration Partnership. Workers have been on site since July, and completion of all three sites is expected between summer and winter 2025.
Councillor Dan Swords, Leader of Harlow Council, paid a visit to the sites to lay one of the first bricks on the former Staple Tye depot site and meet with some of the workers who are delivering the new homes for the town. Among the crew was apprentice Jack, who is from Harlow and joins the site as part of an apprenticeship programme with GSQ Brickwork and will enjoy extensive experience and professional training as part of his new role.
Councillor Dan Swords, said:
“Our housebuilding programme will deliver our missions to transform Harlow’s housing and rebuild our town and in places like Staple Tye also renew our neighbourhoods.
“It was fantastic to see all the planning and behind-the-scenes work starting to really take shape. We are now on track to have 44 new council homes, built to the highest standard, ready for Harlow families to move into by the end of next year.
“It was also really encouraging to meet Jack, a local apprentice who has the opportunity not only to go on and have a successful career in the construction industry, but to help build new homes in his own community.
“This programme will not only transform the lives of people who need a place to live, but the lives of people who are helping to build the new homes for our town!”