Harlow Town Centre bus station project set to be delayed by over a year
Business / Mon 27th Apr 2026 at 08:43am
THE COMPLETION date for the new bus station in Harlow Town Centre has been put back by up to a year.
The multimillion project, which is at the heart of the council’s regeneration agenda, was set to be completed by June 2026.
But tucked at the back of the council’s planning page is an application to extend the “operational date from June 2026 to June 2027”
The application letter, submitted by construction consultants McBains simply states that the project has been “subject to delay”.
YH understands that the delays on a re-tendering issue. More details to come.
The temporary bus station is located on Post Office Road.
The full details of new application can be found on Harlow Council’s planning page.
Search for HW/FUL/24/00283
YH plans to speak to council leader Dan Swords on this subject later in the week.
Jake Shepherd
2026-04-27 09:58:22
But that's not right, it's not the 7th of May yet! Harlow residents have been repeatedly told that the work would only stop if the election didn't go Dan's way... My tongue in cheek comment aside, this is of course disappointing news for everyone. I still support the vision of this sustainable transport hub, and it's an essential down payment on our town's journey towards improving public transport and active travel. I know officers at Harlow Council will be working very hard to minimise delays, and I think the real lesson here is that regeneration is and has always been subject to events beyond any person's control (for instance, the global financial crisis caused an Australian company to pull out of the town centre's regeneration in the 2010s). As your local Councillor I will work to promote and support regeneration efforts, whilst also ensuring due attention and investment is equally given to neighbourhoods in our ward in Passmores. Jake Shepherd Labour and Co-operative Party Candidate for Passmores Ward and Councillor (2024 - 2026)
Pete
2026-04-27 11:03:23
The most recent date under that reference is 26/9/2004 on Harlow.gov. Why is that please?
Dave
2026-04-27 11:15:51
The cracks in this plan are beginning to show, it will be a waste of time to even think it will ever be completed! Puts the local elections in a new light (ie vote for harlow but then fail to produce)
Phil
2026-04-27 12:08:41
The Conservatives had tried to stop the election, now ask yourself 'why?'. Is the great Harlow regeneration plan a lot of smoke and mirrors? Is this going to be another case of 'There's no money in the coffers' when the Conservatives are finally ousted?
Valerie
2026-04-27 12:30:32
Phil, check the Budget that you silent Reform councillor approved and supported. You have already been told this. People will think Reform are stupid prats who can't read. Now register it and stop being stupid!
Nicholas Taylor
2026-04-27 12:42:52
Lets just remind ourselves that this £15 million scheme was given planning approval as long ago as 11 January 2023. On 4 August 2025 Cllr Swords announced that work was about to start on the construction of the new Terminus (bus station to you and I), having seen the site cleared of the old buildings and walkway. The first contractor, Morgan Sindall was no longer involved and the work was given to the Hill Group. Since then it is interesting to see that a huge new warehouse has been built along Howard Way, whilst on the Terminus site there is not much other than a number of large holes. Huge pipes have been delivered to the site which makes me wonder just why these are needed, when the new buildings are only single storey, much of it made of glass. Was the old terminus built close to the nearby buildings because of underground services which have only now come to light? Have costs increased? As it is, Harlow Council will be no more by the time the Terminus is completed.
Julia
2026-04-27 12:45:09
Valerie has been somewhat harsh with poor Phil, but her point is essentially right. Phil and any Reform candidates need to understand the basics of local government finance. From reading Phil's comments, it appears that he is perhaps a very slow learner. Councils must present balanced budgets signed off by the Senior Finance Officer, the Section 151 officer or face intervention by the Secretary of State. As has been explained ad nauseum in a number of posts in YH, the entire financial programme for the regeneration has been secured and set out in detail in the Budget. A budget that was voted for by the Reform councillor, thus making Phil's innuendos and inference even more inane and crass. He does his party no service by appearing so intellectually challenged by simple concepts. Hopefully, this will clarify the matter for him and his colleagues and they can revert to hanging flags on lampposts.
AB
2026-04-27 12:46:14
So much for Demolition Dan's declaration that he gets things done. This dousing in the ice-cold waters of reality is very embarrassing given the proximity of the local elections.
Seamus
2026-04-27 13:26:37
This was always going to happen when you have a “preferred “ contractor getting most of the contracts and every single project isn’t finished before moving onto the next project. This should mean then that the application to build on the post office car park should be refused as it will need to be the bus station for Harlow till terminus street is finished. Just another example of the emperor’s new clothes catching local officials out.
gary roberts
2026-04-27 14:08:38
No work on the Market Square or the "new" bus station today: Why? The local Conservatives should at least have put Cllr Swords up for comment on this delay, shouldn't they? Yes is the correct answer. Cracks are starting to appear and not just in the new paving along Broad Walk.
Mike Harlow
2026-04-27 14:19:08
Well looks like it didn't take a vote for anyone else for regeneration to grind to a halt after all!
Nicholas Taylor
2026-04-27 14:55:29
Gary, how about Market House, any sign of work going on there? Cllr Swords said on 21 November that work on the building would start that month. And what about Adams House, he said on 18 December that work would start just after Christmas?
Jennifer Holland
2026-04-27 15:13:16
What's new. Everything they do is delayed or not finished at all.
Jacqui Croager
2026-04-27 15:48:56
Not surprised, the town centre remains a no go area for people like me who can't walk far
Kevin
2026-04-27 15:53:57
More good things have happened under Dan than anything has happened to Harlow in years, if you cannot see this just look at welwyn garden city, Hatfield, Stevenage and Hemel Hempstead, all towns like ours that Harlow is leaving behind. So much is happening at the same time something is bound to go out of time. Dan and his team should be proud of what they are achieving, i just wish certain people would see the positives in stead of spreading so much negativity, we really don't need any more
Tracy Cranfield
2026-04-27 16:19:25
How much extra does a construction project cost if it over runs by a year? Construction projects frequently experience cost overruns of 16% to over 80% , with large projects often taking 20% longer than planned . For a one-year delay, expenses can easily surge by 20–45% due to labor inflation, material price volatility, and extended financing costs . Typical Overrun Factors Average Overrun: Projects often exceed budgets by at least 16% . Large-Scale Overruns: Large projects can see costs run up to 80% over the original budget . Residential/Small Projects: Residential builds commonly face 10–20% in extra costs . Why Costs Increase Over Time Material Prices: As of late 2024, construction material prices remained ~39.7% higher than pre-pandemic levels, leading to high escalation costs if a project is delayed . Financing and Overhead: A one-year delay means an additional year of project management fees, site rental, insurance, and interest on construction loans . Common Causes: Incomplete design documents, scope creep, and inaccurate initial estimates are primary drivers . Im wondering if Dad Swords and team have included the Industry Best Practices Contingency Fund: Contractors generally recommend adding a 10%–20% contingency fee to the total budget to handle unexpected, yet inevitable, overruns . Hmm Going to eat in to Harlow regeneration Budget !!! Im really looking forward to Dan Swords explanations.... Disclaimer: This information represents general industry averages. Specific project costs can vary widely depending on location, material costs, and scope .
Tracy Cranfield Reform candidate
2026-04-27 16:39:06
A one-year delay on a construction project can add roughly 5% to 20%+ to the original project cost—but it depends heavily on what’s driving the delay. Here’s the short, practical breakdown: Main extra costs from a 1-year delay: Labor cost increases (3–10%) Wage inflation, rehiring crews, overtime if schedule tightens later. Material price changes (5–15% or more) Especially for steel, concrete, lumber—prices can fluctuate a lot over a year. Financing costs (2–8%) Extra interest on loans, extended credit lines. Site & overhead costs (5–10%) Equipment rentals, site security, project management salaries, insurance. Penalties / lost revenue (varies widely) Late delivery fines or missed income if it’s a commercial project. Bottom line Best case: ~5–10% increase Common case: ~10–20% increase Worst case (high inflation or disputes): 20–30%+ Lets hope Dan Swords has a good contingency fee in place for this delay. I cannot wait to see the financial statement that has been delayed !
Me again
2026-04-27 18:13:17
Run out off cover up rotting shops plywood and paint ?
Chris
2026-04-27 19:03:59
Me again. What?
Yvonne
2026-04-27 19:21:50
Tracy Cranfield, I think you have jumped the gun. Do you actually know the terms of the contract? Do you know the background. Your entire hypothesis is based on conjecture and unsubstantiated presumption. As usual, I suspect that the Dan Swords administration will be vindicated and you and Reform will be left looking embarrassed by you lack of knowledge and actual facts.
UKMaverick785
2026-04-27 20:07:16
Are you Dan Swords Mum Yvonne? Sounds like he could he drop a piano on your new car, and you would still think he was wonderful. Maybe time to take the blinkers off! The fact is he had two chances to produce the report into this, and failed both times, therefore nobody knows the terms of any of the contracts! That shows poor Leadership, and screams of having something to hide. Presumably why the report is being hidden until after the Election!
UKMaverick785
2026-04-27 20:18:08
Valerie, if you just throw insults, it looks like you have lost the argument and have nothing to say. Secondly, no budget contains the details of signed contracts for anything, just the figures to go in it to make it a balanced budget. Thirdly, you keep attacking Paul Jago for being quiet in the Chamber. Remember, he is on his own, so can't move any motions, and has no committee places. Hence, I would ask have you got the dedication to go to as much as Paul does on his own without any colleagues or support. The only person who does is Andrew Johnson. So before you attack people for things you don't understand, perhaps you should talk to Andrew about what is like being a lone wolf. Then you will see why Andrew has so much respect for Paul. Respect he has gained throughout the Chamber, and on both sides!
Tracy Cranfield
2026-04-27 21:15:41
@Yvonne Im not jumping the gun ! It has been stated that the bus station will run over by over a year . REFORM has nothing to be embarrassed about , this is Dan Swords project. I only hope the contingency fee will cover the delayed costs . But as the financial report wasn't ready on time , who knows . Makes you wonder if things are being held back because of the election . Hmm maybe why Dan cancelled your right to vote .
Paul Jacobson
2026-04-27 21:50:53
Demolition Dan could not arrange a drinking event in a pub, not one single regeneration plan has come to fruition, and I would still like to know if there are any family links between Hills group and any conservative councilor.
Scott H
2026-04-28 00:53:57
This delay vindicates the concerns we in Reform UK have shared publicly for some time that you must not gamble with public funding and public trust by trying to go too far, too fast. We all want the best for Harlow and for improvements to happen yesterday, but the dangers in running multiple, significant projects in this way are too great. If Cllr Swords' colleagues are too weak to restrain his appetite for gambling with Harlow's future, voting Reform UK this May will help ensure that somebody will.
Jasper
2026-04-28 06:36:21
Scott you do not have a clue as to how to project manage a regeneration programme of this magnitude. Look at your complete lack of a programme for Harlow. You have no one with experience and just moan from the sidelines. Look at the mess Reform has made of the councils they run, e.g Kent, Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire, etc. Reform should stick to national matters.
David Forman
2026-04-28 10:39:38
I think ScottH, the man with no plan, should refer himself to a YourHarlow article dated March 6 where a Reform spokesperson said: "We broadly welcome the budget for Harlow put before the Full Council Meeting on 5th March 2026 and voted in support of it accordingly." See article at https://www.yourharlow.com/2026/03/06/reform-broadly-welcome-conservative-run-council-budget/
John
2026-04-28 11:04:04
So Tracy Cranfield Reform Candidate, have you seen the latest post on YH regarding the Bus Terminus? All on schedule and below Budget!!! So to you and all the Reform doubters, once again you have proven that you are clueless as to local government finances and how to run a council. You really do need to up your game as the councils elsewhere run by Reform as a disaster.
Val
2026-04-28 11:07:08
UK Maverick, who's your mum? Have you read the Council officers' statement posted on YH? Time for you to eat humble pie! 🤣
Mazzy
2026-04-28 14:16:37
Quelle surprise!
Carolyn
2026-04-28 15:41:13
So this story has now been corrected and the project is on schedule and below budget. A lot of Reformers are now looking rather silly with their bravado. Let's hear it for Dan Swords and the local Conservatives!
Jasper
2026-04-29 12:05:12
There is a lot of naughtiness going on with this thread. Someone has posted under my name and my original post was removed. The right to vote is set in stone. Nobody has the right to tell you how to vote or ask you how you voted.
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