PLANS to build more new energy-saving council homes for Harlow families have been approved by councillors as part of Harlow Council’s housebuilding programme.

Last night (9 November 2022) the council’s Development Management Committee agreed plans to build 8 new 3-bedroom council houses on a disused garage site in Arkwrights. All homes will have high levels of insulation, energy efficient heating, solar panels and electric vehicle charging points. The council will also be looking at the feasibility of installing heat pumps in the new homes.

Just last month the council approved plans to build 6 new energy saving council homes in The Woodleys, and another 18 approved in September at the former Lister House site and The Yorkes.  

Each home will be provided with appropriate off-street parking, alongside one disabled parking bay at the centre of the site. The development will include a landscaped central area providing an improved link from Arkwrights to the existing community allotment gardens.

This is the latest development to be agreed as part of Harlow Council’s council housebuilding programme which aims to build 99 council homes between 2022 and 2024. All homes will be allocated to Harlow families on the Harlow Housing Needs Register.

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

“This is another development approved as part of our housebuilding programme which will provide much-needed modern new council homes for Harlow families. These homes in Arkwrights will be built to a very high quality and well above the required standard and feature lots of energy saving measures making them homes which are fit for now and the future. Each home will have high levels of insulation and solar panels to keep energy bills low and there will be access to electric vehicle charging points.

“This scheme will not only mean brand council homes for Harlow families, but another area of our town regenerated. This is a crucial part of the council’s agenda to regenerate our neighbourhoods and restore pride in our town.

“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.”