HARLOW will need “something genuinely pioneering” for its travel infrastructure if the number of residents in the area is to increase as expected reports the Local Democracy Reporter.

Between 2023 and 2045 a total of 19,500 dwellings are planned to be built in the Harlow and Gilston Garden Town (HGGT) development.

This is estimated to boost the population by around 45,000 to around a total size of 140,000 and 67,000 jobs – a 50 per cent increase on the current Harlow population and employment base.

Planners say this “notable growth” will leave it as large as Exeter, Cambridge, Norwich and Oxford.

To achieve growth they add 50 per cent of all trips starting or ending in the existing communities of Harlow Town should be by active and sustainable travel modes – more than double the existing 23 per cent.

They want the number of trips starting or ending in the new garden communities of Harlow & Gilston Garden Town by active and sustainable travel modes to reach 60 per cent.

Chairman of HGGT joint committee Councillor Dan Swords said: “I don’t think anyone fails to recognise quite the scale of what we are talking about.

“And when you understand that the garden town in nine or ten years time, we are suggesting, will be the same size as Cambridge or Exeter it doesn’t seem such a distant concept that we will have to do something dramatically differently on active travel, moving away from where things are currently.

“Having said that, does that mean it is not an enormous challenge, particularly as you talk about existing residents moving from 23 pc sustainable journeys as they are currently to 50 per cent?

“That doesn’t take a genius to work out that requires something genuinely pioneering and massively different to where things are now.”

The report from engineering consultants Arup concluded increasing bus use would be key – from its current use of less than five per cent to as much as 15 per cent – by producing frequent and reliable service as well as rebalancing the cost of travel so it is cheaper by car.

Councillor Swords added: “What the report does capture is that the interventions reference are more carrot and less stick.

“They are about providing genuine alternatives to people to change their travel patterns as opposed to banning the car and closing every car park-type thing.”