THE LEADER of Harlow Council has welcomed the news that planning permission has been granted for 10,000 homes to be built just across the border in Gilston.

Councillor Dan Swords said: ‘”This is an historic day for the future of our town. If you desire a future for our town where homes are more affordable and of better quality, where community, healthcare and leisure facilities are improved and more available and where we have the road, walking and cycling infrastructure to thrive and drive businesses to grow then this decision paves the way for that future. 

“This garden village planning permission signals transformational growth for the area with 10,000 new homes including 2,300 new affordable homes for local people, but also crucially this is a leading example for the country of ensuring the required infrastructure to transform the area for existing and new residents is in place. 

“That means £1.3 billion worth of investment for our area into 7 new primary schools and two new secondary schools, huge upgrades to our road, walking and cycling infrastructure, new healthcare facilities, a new leisure centre and football hub, as well as over 7 acres of employment space to support the growth of local SMEs and attract new investment to create high-skilled jobs for local residents. 

“We have worked tirelessly to ensure that this benefits Harlow not disadvantages Harlow. That is not easy within the planning system, but this genuinely will help to transform our town centre, deliver more quality housing for local residents and give Harlow both new and old the infrastructure we need. 

“But more importantly, so much work has been done to ensure that unlike many other large developments, this truly is a desirable place to live with 7 sustainable garden villages. That means that over 50% of the village area will be made up of public, open and natural green space and that the designs and layouts of the villages are of the very best quality. 

“It also means that these new garden villages will not gridlock roads for existing residents in Harlow and the surrounding areas, or put ever increasing pressure on local services such as GPs, but rather that Harlow is a better place to live, work, raise a family and grow a business for existing residents as a result of the decisions that have been taken to transform local infrastructure. 

“This represents one of the biggest planning permissions ever granted and it gives the green light to new garden villages, new homes, more investment, fantastic opportunities and a brighter future for Harlow.”