Harlow Council

We are taking action to regenerate neglected sites in our Town Centre as part of our mission to "rebuild our town" Here more from our leader Dan Swords Read more using the link in the comments

🛴 E-scooter trial project set to come to Harlow to provide residents with an affordable transport alternative We are set to agree a Department for Transport (DfT)-led e-scooter trial for Harlow allowing e-scooters which are part of the scheme to be used legally in the town.   A report about Harlow becoming e-scooter trial area will be discussed by our Cabinet on 19 March 2025. The aim of this scheme would be to provide another safe, affordable and convenient way for commuters and key workers to travel in and around Harlow.   The trial is expected to run until at least May 2026. It would see publicly available e-scooters appearing across the town for the public to use on a range of affordable prices or subscriptions.   Whilst in general e-scooters are illegal for use in the UK, those being used in Harlow as part of the government trial would be permissible to use.   Councillor Alastair Gunn, Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Garden Town and Planning, said:   "Following careful consideration, we are proposing that Harlow takes part in the e-scooter trial. If successful, it will offer residents another legal and more affordable way to travel around our town. "Harlow benefits from already having a comprehensive cycle network that links up residential estates with the town centre, train station and employment areas. That makes us a good location to run an e-scooter trial. "The recent £2 million upgrade to the cycle path between the town centre and the Pinnacles shows that investment is going into making these routes fit for purpose, with the council working hard to secure more investment into the network. "There are legitimate concerns about the safety of e-scooters, both for those that use them and for pedestrians. These have been central to our thinking about whether to take part in the trial. They will be key to whether we stick with it. "Through being able to limit where and how fast these trial e-scooters can go, plus tough rules around who can use them and how, we believe these concerns can be met. However, we will be monitoring the trial continuously and have agreed an exit option if problems do come up that cannot be satisfactorily addressed. "Ultimately what matters is whether this trial gives Harlow residents a better way to get around town and to live their lives. Especially on the longer-term subscriptions, the e-scooters will be easily affordable for most people and even with speed restrictions, they may well be quicker and easier than driving particularly at peak times. "By taking part in the trial, we're aiming to give people that extra legal and affordable choice on how to travel."   If approved by Cabinet next week, a project group made up of Essex County Council, Harlow Council and an e-scooter operator will be set up to investigate the potential for setting up and running the trial.  

🫶 Do you run an organisation in Harlow? We've launched new partnership grants focussed on supporting organisations to improve residents’ lives and create new opportunities. The new grants will come into effect during the new financial year (from 1 April) with applications opening this week. For more and to apply see link in the comments 👇 As part of our budget, we have allocated £50,000 a year to the scheme and changed the grants criteria to deliver activities which support its missions. The grants, which will be for 3 years, will support activities that: 🫶 Address the issues (affordability of food, debt and other financial worries) compounded by the increased cost of living 🫶 Reduce loneliness and social isolation 🫶 Increase volunteering opportunities 🫶 Support physical and mental health and wellbeing initiatives and promote suicide prevention work 🫶 Women’s safety and perpetrators’ behaviour change 🫶 Positive opportunities for young people – specifically aimed at engaging disaffected young people; those on periphery (not in education or employment) 💬 Councillor Danielle Brown, Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Community and Wellbeing, said: “We have overhauled our partnership grants so that we can support local organisations to deliver activities which will improve people’s lives and create new opportunities whilst tackling some serious issues. "It has been sometime since partnership grants have been reviewed in such a way, but we are confident that the new scheme will truly improve people’s lives for the better.” The fund of £50,000 is in addition to other grants the council gives to organisations which include the Rainbow Services Community Hub, Harlow Art Trust and funding provided to the Health & Wellbeing board to support projects.

Another historic moment for Harlow... 🙌The construction of one of the biggest council house schemes in Harlow for more than 30 years has moved closer to completion after a topping out ceremony was held last week 🏗️ 🏢 A 24-home apartment block on Perry Road is one of several council housebuilding schemes being developed by the Harlow Regeneration Partnership which is a joint venture between the council and Hill Group UK The partnership is delivering hundreds of new council homes across the town including three schemes in Staple Tye The development is on the former Lister House site which had previously been derelict for several years The development will eventually comprise of 20 two-bedroom apartments and 4 one-bedroom apartments The apartments will be some of the most energy efficient homes in Harlow with solar panels and homes powered by air source heat pumps, helping to keep energy bills down. The development will also include commercial space Once complete all homes will be allocated to Harlow families on the Harlow Housing Needs Register Celebrating construction reaching the highest point at the development, the topping out ceremony was attended by representatives from Harlow Council and The Hill Group including Dan Swords, the Leader of Harlow Council, and Tom Hill, Managing Director of The Hill Group. 💬 Councillor Dan Swords, Leader of the Council, said: "We are on a mission to transform Harlow's housing, renew our neighbourhoods and rebuild our town and schemes like this will help us deliver these missions. Our housebuilding programme will provide all kinds of homes from apartments to bungalows to houses to meet the different housing needs of Harlow residents. “Since work started last summer the rate of construction on this site has been remarkable. I was delighted to join our partners The Hill Group to mark this important milestone as construction reaches the highest point. This is one of three housebuilding schemes in Staple Tye being delivered by this partnership which will not only provide much-needed new council homes for Harlow families but will help transform this area.” 💬 Tom Hill, Managing Director at The Hill Group, said: “Perry Road is one of the first three projects to be delivered through the Harlow Regeneration Partnership and it’s an exciting moment to see our joint vision come to fruition – regenerating a derelict site into 24 much-needed new homes for Harlow Council and a brand-new commercial facility. Reaching the highest point of construction here is an important milestone – we are proud to be creating genuinely affordable and extremely sustainable homes for Harlow’s community. We look forward to delivering many more projects like this one in the future.”

🌍 📢 Share Your Local Climate Action Story Has your group or business been making a difference in Harlow through climate action? Whether you're enhancing biodiversity, promoting sustainable transport reducing waste, or any other green initiative - we want to hear from you! We’re launching a Local Climate Action Stories section on our climate webpage to highlight and celebrate the incredible efforts happening right here in our community. How to share your story: ✅ Write a short submission of 100-400 words. ✅ This should cover who you are, what your project is about, and how your work is helping to tackle climate change. ✅ Include 1-3 photos to showcase your climate actions. ✅ Submit to myharlow@harlow.gov.uk by Friday 21 March. We will continue accepting submissions on a rolling basis after this deadline, with later entries to be featured in future updates. Let’s inspire more action together!

🙌 Harlow's approach to Town Centre regeneration commended as minister comes to town 🤝 The Minister of State for Local Government and English Devolution, Jim McMahon MP, visited Harlow yesterday to see the work the council is doing to regenerate the town centre as he launched the Government’s Neighbourhood Plan He was given a tour of the town centre by Council Leader, Dan Swords, and accompanied by local MP, Chris Vince As part of the Neighbourhood Plan, Harlow is set to receive £20 million over ten years, that was previously earmarked through the Long-Term Plan for Towns. However, the new criteria will give the council more flexibility over the funding The Minister commended Harlow Council for its work to regenerate the town centre and was highly impressed by the comprehensive approach to rebuild the whole town centre to boost economic growth, which the funding is intended to further enable Funding is expected to be released from April 2025 with delivery investment starting in 2026. A neighbourhood board will be setup to identify specific projects 💬 Councillor Dan Swords said: “I would like to thank the Minister of State for Local Government and English Devolution, Jim McMahon MP, for taking the time to come to Harlow and find out more about what is happening in our town and what we are delivering to renew our neighbourhoods, rebuild our town and secure investment for Harlow’s future. In recent years, the council has successfully secured over £70m in government funding and much more in private sector investment which is enabling us to deliver our missions for the town. “We welcome the additional £20m in government funding through the Plan for Neighbourhoods which has now been confirmed. This means we can do ever more to transform our town. We look forward to working with the government and our partners to target this funding at the right places and projects to further restore pride in Harlow and improve people’s lives. “I am very pleased that the Minister was impressed with the work we as a council are doing to transform our town for a generation.”

Last night we approved our biggest ever budget with £244 million to transform Harlow Our leader, Councillor Dan Swords, has described it as a budget that will "transform our town for a generation" Exciting times for everyone who lives, works, studies and visits Harlow

🏡 We know how important it is that local facilities are provided as new homes and communities are created. We are now seeing progress being made to build new community facilities at Gilden Park in Old Harlow 🗣️ Gilden Park residents and the residents’ association supported by the council have been working hard to ensure that these much-needed facilities are provided by developers as part of the section 106 agreement 💬 Councillor Alastair Gunn, cabinet portfolio holder for Garden Town & Planning, said: “One of our missions is to secure investment for Harlow’s future. The facilities nearing completion in Gilden Park are an example of that in practice and of what we're pushing for from other proposed new developments in and around the town. "The encouraging progress we're now seeing comes after what, for Gilden Park residents, have been deeply frustrating delays. These are behind us, but Harlow Council has learned from them. This will continue to inform our approach to ensuring the timely delivery of new, improved community facilities in other developments that are being discussed." 📷 Photos show the sports pitches and sports pavilion which are set to be ready for the new season in August and the community centre which is due for completion this June Allotments and permanent retail facilities will also be provided and a school built by Essex County Council Images by Brian Thomas photography

👀 Check out our latest aerial shots of David Lloyd Harlow which is set to open this winter 🏊♀️ Do we see a base for an outdoor swimming pool? ✍️ We are securing investment for Harlow’s future

🙌 Harlow now has meerkats to add to its list of attractions in the Town Park at Pets’ Corner There is the opportunity for a business to sponsor these adorable animals