The project to return the iconic Town Park bandstand to the heart of Harlow is now more than halfway complete as the council have today unveiled the designs for the new bandstand.
After the devastating fire that destroyed this much-loved landmark, the council made a commitment: to rebuild the bandstand in time to host major events next summer. That promise is well on track. The site has been fully cleared, specialist architects and contractors are in place, and the design has been shaped by valuable feedback from residents, performers and community groups.
Working closely with the community, the design that has been agreed, honours the bandstand’s heritage while preparing it for generations to come.
Key features of the design include:
- A faithful return to the bandstand’s iconic shape, now fully symmetrical for a cleaner, more elegant look.
- A robust low-carbon construction, stone structure that reflects the Town Park’s Grade II listed character and strengthens its long-term resilience.
- A modern steel frontage, combining durability with a contemporary finish.
- A larger, upgraded performance area fit for major events and a wide range of cultural activities.
- State-of-the-art acoustics and audiovisual equipment, improving the experience for audiences while reducing noise for nearby residents.
- Vastly improved security and fire resistance to protect the structure for the future.
- A symmetrical frontage creates a balanced aesthetic that naturally forms an intimate, close-up viewing area for guests.
- A fully accessible stage with a ramp to ensure the venue is accessible to everyone.
- A purpose-built backstage area giving performers the facilities they need to deliver outstanding shows.
- New landscaping features – including a living green roof – will help anchor the bandstand within its historic setting.
- Brick salvaged from the original bandstand will be carefully incorporated into the new structure, preserving a tangible connection to its past.
- The design is inspired by the work of Sylvia Crowe, the visionary landscape architect behind the original Town Park.
- Integrated external power and water supplies will support community events and make the bandstand a fully equipped hub for activity in the park.
Thanks to this thoughtful and sensitive design, the new bandstand will once again become a premier venue for major events and a focal point for community celebration.
The remaining steps of the 8-step rebuild plan include securing planning permission, completing the construction and hosting a special opening event next year.
Announcing the designs, Councillor Dan Swords, Leader of Harlow Council, said:
“After the devastating fire that destroyed our much-loved bandstand, we promised not just to rebuild it, but to bring it back better – honouring its heritage while creating something truly worthy of Harlow’s cultural landscape. And that is exactly what these designs deliver.
“Guided by the community every step of the way, the new design retains the bandstand’s iconic shape while giving it the symmetry, strength, and presence it always deserved. From the stone structure and green roof that root it firmly in its historic setting, to the modern steel frontage, improved acoustics, and fully accessible ramps, this is a bandstand built for the future. We’re even incorporating original brickwork to ensure a direct link to its past.
“With larger performance space, purpose-built backstage facilities, and integrated power and water for other town park events, this will once again become a centrepiece for major gatherings in the Town Park. We are already more than halfway through our eight-step plan, and the excitement is building as we move closer to welcoming residents back for its grand reopening next year ahead of a summer of major events.
“The proposed Bandstand embraces the pioneering design ethos of Harlow. Sylvia Crowe, who advised Harlow Development Corporation on landscaping and designed the Town Park once said ‘A New Town in the landscape, and not the landscape in the New Town’, and that is exactly what the new bandstand design achieves.
“This is a major milestone for arts and culture in our town – delivering something truly special for Harlow and celebrating the pride we all share in our community.”