Corporate policy: Building Harlow's Future

The Building Harlow's Future plan is our main corporate policy framework for 2026 to 2027.

This plan outlines a comprehensive, mission-driven approach to revitalising the town, improving services, and delivering meaningful outcomes for residents.

It sets out our missions, what we will do to deliver them, and how we will ensure that the plan is a success.

This page provides a summary of our plan. To read our plan in full, download the full version of the Building Harlow's Future plan (pdf)

Our missions

Our 6 missions are to:

Transform our council so it becomes a national exemplar of modern local government: agile, ambitious and relentlessly focused on results.
Rebuild our town so Harlow once again becomes a place that sets the standard for regeneration, design and civic pride.
Invest in our housing so every resident has access to safe, affordable and high-quality homes they can be proud of.
Renew our neighbourhoods so every street, green space and community reflects the quality and ambition Harlow was originally built with.
Secure our future by unlocking opportunity, investment, skills and prosperity for the next generation.
Protect our communities through tougher enforcement, safer streets and a clear message that Harlow will not be a soft touch.

Transform our council

To transform our council, we will:

Continue to freeze Council Tax through rigorous financial discipline whilst delivering our budget in full.
Transform every council communication to reflect the modern, bold council Harlow has become.
Deliver a modern, fast and responsive customer experience fit for a reborn New Town.
Deliver a landmark programme of historic events that celebrates Harlow and inspires a new era for our town.
Champion Harlow’s strong local leadership and the town’s right to shape its own future.
Lead a new era of partnership working to drive the rebirth of Harlow.
Embed our modern governance framework to strengthen leadership, accountability and faster decision-making.
Continue the transformation of council and HTS housing and environment services to achieve industry leading standards.
Capture and share the story, emotion and scale of rebuilding Harlow as a New Town for a new generation.
Strengthen contract management, shareholder governance and the performance of the council’s companies and commercial operations.
Position Harlow Council as a national leader in modern local government.

Rebuild our town

To rebuild our town, we will:

Successfully deliver our record £93 million Non-Housing Capital Programme.
Revitalise neighbourhood shopping centres, hatches and local high streets to their former glory.
Enable a new wave of housebuilding that gives local people the homes and opportunities they deserve.
Drive forward and complete the major regeneration schemes already transforming Harlow.
Commence the next phase of town centre regeneration schemes.
Ensure the town centre has the infrastructure and connectivity needed to thrive.
Transform the management, stewardship and presentation of Harlow town centre.
Bring new life and energy to the town centre with the attractions, experiences and activities people want to see.
Ensure the rebirth of Harlow creates opportunity and pride in every neighbourhood.
Champion Harlow’s heritage, bold New Town architecture and high-quality design as we shape the future of our town.

Invest in our housing

To invest in our housing, we will:

Embed a whole-council commitment to meeting and exceeding the Consumer Standards across our housing services at C1 standard.
Further improve the allocation of council homes to ensure they are fair, efficient and focused on local people.
Modernise housing management to deliver stronger support for tenants and higher standards.
Continue to improve repairs and maintenance services across our housing stock.
Successfully deliver Harlow’s record-breaking Housing Capital Programme.
Ensure council homes are re-let quickly and to a high standard.
Achieve C1 compliance with the Safety and Quality Standard across our housing services.
Achieve C1 compliance with the Transparency, Influence and Accountability Standard across our housing services.
Achieve C1 compliance with the Tenancy Standard across our housing services.
Achieve C1 compliance with the Neighbourhood and Community Standard across our housing services.
Continue to implement our Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy (2025–2030).
Put tenants and leaseholders at the heart of housing services.

Renew our neighbourhoods

To renew our neighbourhoods, we will:

Restore immaculate standards of street cleanliness and appearance across Harlow.
Continue our successful Open Parking Programme.
Restore grounds maintenance services to Development Corporation-era standards.
Deliver the next phase of the Neighbourhood Renewal Programme across Harlow.
Enhance green spaces, trees, ponds and wildlife across every neighbourhood.
Deepen our programme to tackle the maintenance gaps left by Essex County Council – and ensure they pay their fair share.
Roll out a comprehensive vegetation management programme to open Harlow back up and restore the appearance of our neighbourhoods.
Deliver a town-wide programme to transform Harlow’s roundabouts into landmarks the town can be proud of.
Extend and enhance our Rapid Estate Enhancement Programme across Harlow’s neighbourhoods.

Secure our future

To secure our future, we will:

Launch our London-style cycle hire scheme to offer new ways to move around the town.
Radically expand opportunities, activities and experiences for Harlow’s young people.
Take bold action to improve Harlow’s transport infrastructure and connectivity.
Launch an Every Child Can programme to unlock opportunity and aspiration for every young person in Harlow.
Launch a major workplace and skills programme to tackle unemployment and expand opportunity.
Attract the public and private sector investment needed to secure Harlow’s future.
Ensure Harlow’s growth delivers real benefits for existing residents and communities.
Support local businesses, SMEs and entrepreneurs to grow and succeed in Harlow.

Protect our communities

To protect our communities, we will:

Ruthlessly target enforcement action against those who blight Harlow and make life a misery for residents.
Deliver a modern, integrated and industry-leading CCTV network across Harlow.
Establish and implement a structured Community Payback Programme.
Introduce a selective licensing scheme for private rented homes across Harlow.
Implement a relentless zero tolerance approach to environmental and neighbourhood enforcement across Harlow.
Transform licensing services to support the rebuilding of the town centre and night-time economy.
Take back control of neighbourhoods and public spaces affected by crime and antisocial behaviour.
Strengthen joint working with Essex Police and partner agencies to keep Harlow safe.
Tackle the root causes of crime and antisocial behaviour through prevention and early intervention.
Build a modern intelligence-led enforcement and community safety operation.

Our values

Our 5 values are:

Community - we are committed to delivering services in a way that makes residents feel valued, connected and empowered.
Ambition - we strive for continual improvement, driven by innovation and creativity to achieve meaningful change.
Compassion - we listen to our residents and colleagues with empathy and understanding, making sure their voices are heard, and their needs are met.
Excellence - we strive for the highest standards, committing to quality, continuous improvement, and exceptional performance in delivering services for Harlow
Unity - we are committed to building a cohesive workplace, collectively delivering on Harlow’s missions.

Ensuring success

To ensure success, this year we will:

Build a high-performing council workforce equipped to deliver excellence. Investing in skills, leadership and innovation to create a culture that is ambitious, agile and focused on outcomes for residents.
Harness innovation, technology and data to transform how the council operates. Delivering faster, more effective and more responsive services through smarter systems and insight-led decision making.
Drive a one-team culture of continuous improvement and relentless action across the council. Challenging inefficiency, raising standards and embedding accountability to ensure the council performs at its very best every day.
Remove bureaucracy, inefficiency and barriers that distract from delivering our missions for Harlow. Modernising the council through smarter technology, streamlined processes and future-ready ways of working that enable faster delivery, greater innovation and stronger outcomes for residents.
Strengthen the council’s Programme Management Office to drive delivery, assurance and innovation across all six missions. Providing a single view of progress, risk, finance and opportunity to accelerate delivery, strengthen accountability and keep Building Harlow’s Future on track.