Town Centre development “We don’t need any more unaffordable homes” says Labour councillor
News / Fri 28th Oct 2022 at 08:20am
THESE were the words of veteran Labour councillor Jean Clark just before planning permission was granted for over 800 homes in the town centre.
It was councillor Clark’s response to the news that there would be no affordable homes in the development.
It now looks like most new developments have no affordable homes.
People will contrast this with over 4,000 people on the waiting list in Harlow.
Council house building is occurring but it is twenty houses in Bushey Croft and ten houses in Fesants Croft.
We would not be surprised if that figure remains at 4,000 in ten years time.
The Conservatives in Harlow like to quote Sir Frederick Gibberd when he said the plans for Harlow were ever changing.
However, we don’t think 4,000 people on the waiting list was part of the plan.
Yes, we know that a lot of the housing stock was reduced by right to buy and all that housing stock was not replaced.
Back in the fifties and sixties, people moved out of London because they were not happy with the conditions and were made a better offer.
The economic reality for the 4,000 may well be that unless you want to live with your parents or pay expensive rent then your only other option may be to move out.
David Forman
2022-10-28 09:29:44
Nice words, but not all Labour councillors voted against the development. Bob Davies, representing Mark Hall ward, voted in favour. Apparently, according to council officers' reports, the scheme's "viability is uncertain" which explains the lack of affordable housing. Why would the developers even bother to get planning consent if they were not going to make a tidy profit?
Knock down the ugly part of the Town Centre
2022-10-28 10:59:42
Harlow has more council homes than any surrounding area! And why do people think they deserve a council home in a prime location such as a Town Centre? Get with the times, people need to aspire to not just get knocked up and get a free council house. Harlow needs more private investment to transform the town. Look at the alternative social housing such as Terminus House where lots of the crime comes from!
James
2022-10-28 12:27:29
Councillor Jean Clark has been part of the former Labour administration whose delivery of social and affordable housing over a decade was virtually non-existent. They also presided over the decline of the Town centre to it current deplorable state. The new Tory administration is not only building social housing in Harlow, but engaging constructively with the private sector to attract much-needed investment to rejuvenate the Town Centre. This project is a phase of much more to come. Labour’s record in Harlow is one of abject failure.
Nicholas Taylor
2022-10-28 13:18:19
Firstly, the question of whether a scheme's viability is certain is biased towards developers. Strawberry Star are not some benevolent organisation, they are set to make millions of pounds profit from this scheme just as they have in other parts of the Country. Secondly, the second contributor here clearly has no first hand knowledge of the housing crisis in Harlow and indeed most places across the country. Those on low income will never be able to afford to buy a home and if forced into private rent they will claim housing benefit which is just a drain on the Country's finances. The fact is across the country there are hundreds of thousands of homes to buy are being built but just a handful for those in most housing need. Thirdly, no fan of Labour of course but the reason why Labour did not build more homes is because the Conservative Government placed Councils in a financial straightjacket which meant that Councils across the country could not build the number of homes they wanted to.
Tony Durcan
2022-10-28 15:52:50
Thank god for Jean. This is a great example about how councillors from the same party can vote openly and honestly on this committee. It’s a real shame but no surprise that the local Tory group decide to attack a councillor who has a passion for affordable homes/council homes and tenants. Proud of Jean for standing up and speaking out.
Lostinthemiddle
2022-10-28 16:12:45
We don’t need any more unaffordable homes…sorry can someone remind me which party brought the Local Development Plan which had over 1,000 new homes on greenfield sites? Oh no I’ve got it, it was Labour. Great so another example of it’s fine when we are in power but if someone else does it it’s bad and wrong. Come on…have some credibility please. You’re both as bad as each other
tony edwards
2022-10-28 16:23:47
As a Ward Counsellor for the area I too expressed serious concerns about the total lack of affordable houses and the lack of an agreed contribution towards strategic infrastructure costs. 36 to 40 mins in video https://youtu.be/J5_lEqhGtZc?t=1594
Kim Oconnor
2022-10-29 08:23:59
4,000,,,, it's over 5000 ,, people on waiting list. Facts not right. One thing is right,, this council do like to sing the song of sir Frederick Gibberd,, and will use it as any excuse to make it all sound lovely. Which of course are all complete utter lies. None of theses plans where his plans.. yes we have to move forward, bit to benift this town, and the people here. None , I repeat None of this council s plans, benift Harlow, its all built build, with destruction to Environment, that does not benift this town, because most in this town can not afford theses rabbit hutches, or your so called garden town, which infact should be called concrete town.
Danny Long
2022-10-29 11:27:19
How comes Labour councillor Jean Clark can come out with statement but win I was a UKIP councillor, they was a motion put forward in 2016 regarding housing development ehich did not pass but then the same motion was recalled again in 2017 and passed. I had a say on this motion and my words were, I have heard that there are 4000 Harlow residents on the waiting list here in Harlow and I bet not one of them are going to be given priority when it comes to these houses which are due to be built, I got labelled as a racist by some of the Harlow Labour party councillors and it's supporters along with other left wing party supporters. Two faced or what.
Danny Long
2022-10-29 11:30:27
How comes Labour councillor Jean Clark can come out with statement but win I was a UKIP councillor, they was a motion put forward in 2016 regarding housing development ehich did not pass but then the same motion was recalled again in 2017 and passed, which me and my leader at the time,voted against this motion, I had a say on this motion and my words were, I have heard that there are 4000 Harlow residents on the waiting list here in Harlow and I bet not one of them are going to be given priority when it comes to these houses which are due to be built, I got labelled as a racist by some of the Harlow Labour party councillors and it's supporters along with other left wing party supporters. Two faced or what.
David Forman
2022-10-30 14:26:51
For Danny Long's benefit, here is a direct quote from the Stand Up to UKIP website: "We believe UKIP is a racist party. It is also a party of bigots, sexists, Islamophobes, homophobes and people prejudiced against disabled people. It represents the interests of big business and bankers who caused the economic crisis. It has built up its electoral base by both presenting itself as a party opposed to the European Union, but more importantly by spreading poisonous lies and hatred towards migrants and Muslims." For more detail of UKIP ideology please download the link below in case you missed the 16,000 Fact Sheets delivered to Harlow homes in 2015. Former UKIP councillor Danny Long's ward of Bush Fair was leafleted in the week of 13 to 19 April. Don't be fooled by UKIP's lies: https://standuptoukip.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/Dont-be-fooled-by-ukips-lies-A5.pdf
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