A GROUP of year 6 students from Purford Green Primary School have helped create a woodland walkway at Oakview Walk, Harlow.

Oakview Walk is a new housing development by Essex Housing, the council’s in house developer. It features 29, two, three and four-bed homes for sale. It also has six, three-bed affordable homes. These will be owned and managed by Chelmer Housing Partnership (CHP).

Construction began in January 2023 on the former Purford Green Junior School block. This was left vacant when the junior and infant schools merged to form the Primary School.

The development received around £231,000 from the central government Land Release Fund 20/21 to support the use of council owned brownfield land for housing

The new trees will join original trees that have been retained on the site. This sustainable approach will preserve and enhance biodiversity in the area.

The houses are also EPC A-Rated and benefit from:

Air Source Heat Pumps
Solar Panels
Electric Vehicle Charging Points

Councillor Lee Scott, Cabinet Member for Housing, Planning and Regeneration, said: “The Oakview Walk scheme is a great example of how through Essex Housing, we can turn land and buildings no longer needed into new homes and do so in a way that promotes biodiversity.”

Councillor Peter Schwier, Cabinet Member for Climate Czar, Environment, Waste Reduction and Recycling, said: “I’m pleased that we have been able to involve the children from the neighbouring school to help plant new trees. This gives them the opportunity to learn about their local environment and help improve it.”

“This site is a great example of high-quality housing and utilisation of public sector land that was surplus to requirements.”

Helen Shackleton, Head of Growth at CHP, said: “The completion of Oakview Walk will provide fantastic new family homes for residents who most need them, providing safe, secure, and comfortable accommodation to call home.”

Oakview Walk is part of an exciting programme of over 1,000 new homes that Essex Housing are bringing forward over the next five years.

Around 50% of these are either specialist or affordable housing, helping older people and people with disabilities to live independently.