PLANNING applications for two new Harlow Council housing developments were given the green light at last night’s (17 August) Development Management Committee meeting.

The two schemes will see 18 homes built and owned by Harlow Council and rented out to Harlow families on the Harlow Housing Needs Register.

The homes are part of phase one of the council’s housebuilding programme agreed in March 2022. This programme aims to build 99 council homes between 2022 and 2024. So far two schemes at Bushey Croft and The Hill have been completed creating 18 new council houses. The homes in Bushey Croft will shortly be occupied by council tenants.

The first application approved last night for The Yorkes, Tye Green will see 6 brand new council bungalows built exclusively for over 55s. The development will be in keeping with the area and built on vacant land adjacent to a care home.

The homes will be built using the latest technology to help the new homes deliver low running costs for tenants and work towards the council’s objectives to achieve net zero carbon emissions.

The second application approved for Perry Road is the regeneration of the former Lister House site which will see a development comprising 12 brand new apartments and space for retail and office units.

The 12 homes will be made up of 2 one-bedroom apartments, 8 two-bedroom apartments and 2 three-bedroom apartments.

Councillor Dan Swords, Deputy Leader of the Council, said:

“We are getting on with the job of delivering our housebuilding programme by bringing forward fully costed plans to meet the different needs of Harlow families on our housing needs register. There are further plans for more developments to come.

Our housebuilding programme will see hundreds of new houses, apartments, and bungalows built for Harlow families. We will build the right homes in the right places to the highest standards so that we can truly improve the lives of Harlow families.

“Both of these schemes will not only mean that the council has more high-quality homes for Harlow families, but that sites which have long been derelict are regenerated to meet the local housing need. This is a crucial part of the council’s agenda to regenerate our neighbourhoods and restore pride in our town.”

The council hopes to be on site starting to build both developments in early 2023 following the completion of detailed design and the selection of contractors to build the developments.

Film of last night’s meeting is below.