Harlow and Gilston Garden Town: East Herts threatened with judicial review over consents for 10,000 homes
News / Thu 13th Mar 2025 at 05:00pm
EAST Herts District Council is facing a judicial review action over planning consents for part of the Harlow and Gilston Garden Town project reports Local Government Lawyer.
The council did not say who had launched the action or why, although it has been locally reported that a member of the public is behind this rather than any amenity group.
Click below for the full story.
Kim
2025-03-13 19:52:26
If this is the case, why are they cutting the trees down. You should not predict the out come till it happens.
Adam
2025-03-13 21:04:51
Ahh nimbies where are out kids and grandkids going to live
Seamus
2025-03-13 22:11:57
About time. Multiple councils will now have to explain how they worked hand in hand with developers whilst ignoring the advice and requests of the effected residents of the town. Bringing more vehicles through Harlow will NOT improve the air quality nor will it provide more homes in Harlow as they are all on our boundaries.
Al Gafar
2025-03-14 03:23:57
As usual the tail is wagging the dog
Kim
2025-03-14 08:17:56
Adam they won't be for Harlow, as on boarders. And our kids and grandchildren wouldn't be able to afford them. Lack of affordability as usual. From a very proud nimby.
Jennifer Steadman
2025-03-14 08:44:15
Why do people always presume it's about Nimbyism? The fact of the matter is these villages are being planned without any consideration for the infrastructure. An extra 20,000 people needing to use PAH, an extra 20,000 vehicles on the roads coming into Harlow to use junction 7a, an extra 20,000 people needing doctors surgery & dentist places. Wildlife habitats being uprooted including protected badger setts, foxes, deers, birds etc... All of these are to be considered!! Yes, our children & grandchildren will need somewhere to live, but the 'affordable' homes won't be on offer to Harlow residents neither will the small portion of social housing & yet it is Harlow who will take the brunt of the pressure of these 20,000 extra people. Also the build disruption is expected to last 20yrs?
William Warner
2025-03-14 09:40:39
An landlord/lady will.put of business and rent will come down for people
Nyra
2025-03-14 10:48:40
There needs to be an open meeting that is full view for harlow residents to put forth their fears and opinions. The fact that we need more homes should be guranteed harlow residents are given first refusal at a affordable price.
Donald judd
2025-03-14 10:48:58
I live in old Harlow there's to much traffic going to m11 7a now.
Andrew
2025-03-14 17:28:21
As Jenifer says there is the major issue of PAH and there is also the matter of Rye House sewage works not having sufficient capacity. On the matter of 'affordable' homes the developers have already successfully applied to have the number of these reduced. Where are these additional people going to work, perhaps 10,000 of them? There is not employment in Harlow for them so they will need to commute, either by road or train (already standing room only at peak times).
Martyn
2025-03-14 17:43:29
How about building it within the envelope of Harlow? Plenty of open lans to build on without taking valuable greenfield farmland out of use.
Nicholas Taylor
2025-03-14 23:40:21
Thanks but no thanks Martyn. The town was planned so that 60,00 people could live within its 24 square mile boundary, small homes with small gardens but with lots of green space between estates and a town park for residents to enjoy. There are now 93,000 people living here, the hospital is at bursting point, you cannot get a doctors appointment and the roads are clogged with traffic. Andrew has hit the nail on the head with his comment.
ratboy
2025-03-15 09:44:25
Good the developers need to be held to account.And so do the councils pushing their housing obligation as close to the Harlow boundary as possible.But do not hold your breath on the outcome they will probably have the hand of the judge.
owen lawless
2025-03-15 11:21:15
Harlow has been expanding since the very first spade went in the ground.If all the objections where listened to there would be no new hall,church Langley, Katherines,Sumners, staple tye,(old or new),town center, the stow,etc.etc.etc.
owen
2025-03-15 11:24:56
Harlow has been expanding since the very first spade went in the ground.If all the objections where listened to there would be no new hall,church Langley, Katherines,Sumners, staple tye,(old or new),town center, the stow,etc.etc.etc.
Stuart J
2025-03-15 11:25:26
I’m afraid to say that only new road and railway projects get abandoned, not housing developments. This latest judicial review may delay the work commencing but it won’t make it disappear, it will be built. There’s just too much money at stake for PfP to just walk away from it, also both the Council and Government want it built to ease the so-called housing shortage. But l’m surprised that this Labour Government haven’t yet put any pressure on all these developers to provide a non-negotiable set percentage numbers of both social and affordable housing on all these new housing developments.
Andrew Mccartney
2025-03-16 17:58:14
Harlow needs an underground station. That would be huge for the town if we could get that . Also would like to see all the ex council housing purchased back from these for profit landlords. People don't realise how this effects neighbours either side as you never get to have a stable relationship with them .
John Devoti
2025-03-16 21:57:20
The legal challenge to East Herts Council’s approval of 10,000 houses at Gilston near Harlow highlights a recurring issue: developments are granted without adequate public consultation or guarantees of infrastructure. While new housing is essential, history shows that neglecting roads, schools, and healthcare until after construction leads to taxpayer-funded crises. Approval first, consultation later is not democracy—it is a betrayal of trust. *Worse, this approach risks becoming a national template. Proposals for unitary authorities in Herts and Essex could centralize power further, sidelining communities in decisions that shape their lives. Public engagement must come before decisions, not as an afterthought. I urge leaders to prioritize transparent processes, infrastructure-first planning, and meaningful public input. Let us learn from past mistakes—not keep repeat them.
Nicholas Taylor
2025-03-17 18:55:47
Just to be clear in my earlier response, the new hospital should be built on the current site.
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