TWO developments of new council houses have been completed with the promise of many more homes to come as part of Harlow Council’s housebuilding programme.

Sixteen new council houses have been finished in Bushey Croft with two new houses completed recently in The Hill, Old Harlow. All homes will be available to local families at council rent levels. 

The development at Bushey Croft includes 10 three-bedroom family homes and 6 two-bedroom family homes. The development will be known as John Dowdell Close. 

Thanks to funding secured by the council last year, John Dowdell Close is also one of the greenest in the town helping to support the environment and local wildlife. 

All homes have A-rated boilers and 400mm of loft insulation meaning energy bills will be kept as low as possible. All homes are also fitted with swift boxes, bee bricks and there are hedgehog pathways included within the new estate. New allotment plots have been created and fruit trees planted, and wildflower seeds planted to create a meadow. 

For electric vehicle owners and those looking to buy one in future, there 8 electric vehicle charging points in the development. A further 2 electric vehicle charging points will be available in the communal parking area, which can be used by anyone living in nearby estates.

The homes at John Dowdell Close will be advertised to families on the Harlow Housing Needs Register in the coming weeks.

Keys to the two new council houses in The Hill have recently been handed over to Harlow families. The development includes a three-bedroom house and a two-bedroom house. Both properties also have electric vehicle charging points.

Councillor Dan Swords, Deputy Leader of the Council, who recently visited John Dowdell Close to see the completed development, said:

“This is a quality development of new council homes for Harlow families as we kickstart our housebuilding programme. Not only will this development provide new council homes for Harlow families at the lowest possible rents, but also a pleasant environment in which to live in line with Gibberd’s principles. It is the greenest housing development the council has ever built and just the start of what we have planned for Harlow families. Included in this development are some of the first residential electric vehicle charging points and several measures to support local wildlife.

In March 2022, the council announced a major new housebuilding programme, which will see the construction of 99 council houses, apartments and bungalows over the next 2 years and plans for hundreds of more homes to follow. Councillor Swords, added: 

“Completing the Bushey Croft and The Hill developments is a small but significant step in our housebuilding programme and there are many more new council homes to come. 

“Our new programme announced in March will deliver the biggest council housebuilding programme for many years. Over the next two years we aim to be on site building 99 council homes for rent for Harlow families. We are revolutionising the way the council plans and builds homes, so we can carry on building council homes for many years to come to tackle the Housing Needs register. These new homes will be built to the highest quality and will all be delivered with absolute value for money to the taxpayer. Our programme will build the right homes in the right places and of the highest industry standards so we can truly improve the lives of Harlow families.”