HARLOW Council is continuing to make progress with its Rapid Enhancement Action Plan (REAP) with significant improvements underway across the town’s estates. The initiative, which launched in October 2025, continues to deliver tangible results to tackle long-standing neglect areas and deliver on the council’s mission to ‘renew our neighbourhoods’.

Since the launch of REAP, teams have been working in Milwards, Longbanks, Fennels, Moorfield, Altham Grove and Bishopsfield with more estates coming on stream each week. Works have included:

• Removing dozens of tonnes of rubbish, litter, and fly tipping from communal areas.
• Revitalising shared open spaces with thorough grounds maintenance, grubbing out and replanting.
• Repairing damaged brickwork, walls, and street furniture to improve safety and aesthetics.
• Removing redundant signage and railings that had become eyesores.
• Removing bulky items left outside by residents, and deep-cleaning communal areas.

Adverse weather and a strong focus on high-quality finishes means the programme has evolved from its original plan to include longer-lasting work.

Commenting on the progress, Councillor Nicky Purse, Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Environment, said:

“Our REAP programme is beginning to make a real difference to neglected areas of the town and residents are already noticing a difference. In spite of adverse weather and with our strong focus on high-quality finishes the programme has evolved slightly from our original plan to ensure the work makes a long-lasting impact.

“We’ve removed dozens tonnes of rubbish, fixed broken walls, revitalised green spaces, and deep cleaned estates. These are not just minor fixes – they make a real, visible improvement to where people live and demonstrating that we are delivering on our mission to ‘renew our neighbourhoods’ as we Build Harlow’s Future.”