HARLOW Council has welcomed the recommendation by Epping Forest District Council’s planning officers to refuse outline planning approval for the Latton Priory development. Harlow Council officially objected to the application last year.

An outline planning application for up to 1,340 homes at Latton Priory, located on Harlow’s southern border within the Epping Forest District, was submitted in October 2024 by Commercial Estates Projects Ltd and Hallam Land.

The application is being considered by Epping Forest District Council’s Planning Committee on Wednesday 25 February 2026.

Harlow Council’s objection stated that the current proposals would not deliver the improvements, investment or infrastructure needed to support Harlow. Despite some progress, the development has still not secured the council’s support.

On welcoming the recommendation to refuse, Councillor Michael Hardware, Harlow Council’s Cabinet Member for Garden Town and Planning, said:

“We welcome the recommendation to refuse outline planning permission given our ongoing objections and our concerns that the development will impact the town more than it will benefit it. After a year of uncertainty, Harlow residents will be pleased to see this plan recommended for rejection, especially given the impact on our roads and local services. While we recognise that progress has been made, we remain disappointed that the application’s details have still not advanced enough to secure our support.

“Latton Priory may not be within Harlow’s current borders, but if it does go ahead, it will very much be a part of our town. It cannot be a separate estate that adds nothing to Harlow beyond putting more pressure on our roads and public services. Our objections are not about opposing new housing developments on principle.

Harlow needs to secure investment if we are to rebuild our town and renew our neighbourhoods. We can do this by supporting good‑quality, sustainable development proposals that benefit our town and our residents. For example, by supporting the Gilston villages development to the north of the town and working with our Garden Town partners, we have secured £1.3 billion that will be invested into Harlow. That is the type of commitment to our town we are looking for.”

The agenda and report for Epping Forest’s Planning Committee on 25 February 2026 can be read at https://rds.eppingforestdc.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=876&MId=12404&Ver=4