Harlow Council vote to pursue purchase of major town centre site
News / Fri 28th Mar 2025 at 01:15pm
HARLOW Council has agreed to pursue the purchase of 4-acres of neglected land owned by developers Strawberry Star as part of the complete rebuild of Harlow town centre.
Last week the council announced its plans to buy the land and buildings which are part of the stalled development known as the Harlow Quarter.
Last night (27 March) a report setting out a proposal to purchase the site, using compulsory purchase orders (CPOs), if necessary, was approved at meetings of the Cabinet and Full Council. The proposal has cross-party support on the council and was unanimously agreed.
The Harlow Quarter site runs from Primark in Broad Walk down to Market Square and across to the old Odeon. It includes Little Walk.
With the redevelopment stalled the council has become increasingly frustrated and concerned about the lack of security on the site.
This has made it a no-go zone in the town centre attracting antisocial behaviour, criminal activity, and trespassing.
The site has planning approval for up to 741 homes with substantial new retail, leisure, hospitality, community and commercial space.
Once purchased, the council plans to demolish the empty buildings and completely clear the site to enable a plan to be put forward to kickstart the regeneration of the area.
This would complement other schemes in the town centre such as the rebuild of Harlow bus station, the rebuild of Market Square, the transformation of Terminus Street, Broad Walk and the new arts and cultural quarter in Playhouse Square.
Robert
2025-03-28 13:36:59
Here we go again......
Wil
2025-03-28 14:25:15
I'd be amazed if The Hill Group hasn't already been tapped for the site. Same goes for Adams House. I'm sure there'll be knee-jerk moans and groans of 'more demolition', 'backhanders' and the like from those that refuse to understand how this kind of thing works but, on these occasions I think the council is, at least, trying to do the right thing.
Stephen Archer
2025-03-28 14:47:43
More great artistic impressions. Hope it works out. But does the flock of birds have a deeper symbolic meaning?
Resident
2025-03-28 15:48:13
Complete redevelopment? They cant even get new paving slabs put down. How long has that been going on now ? It's good that something is being done, but given even a simple job has stalled, how likely is it that this will be a success and will we get a say in any redevelopment proposals , that will actually be listened to and taken into consideration. There's been so many very poor decisions, failed 'revamps' or improvements where even something as basic as maintaining planters hasn't been done. We can hope but are we optimistic?
gary roberts
2025-03-28 16:08:29
More money gone to the developers with little sight of a return for the people of Harlow. So what will this council buy next? Market House? That building should have been demolished years ago as was planned. Indeed that was the reason for closing shop mobility. And I suspect all this land banking and no progress will test the patience of Harlow residents. But apparently the knocking down is still part of Cllr. Swords plans: Remember Terminus House? You couldn't make it up or could you?
Seamus
2025-03-28 18:03:50
Seeing the plan, it seems once more to have two premises that the plans have skirted around, the old odeon and what I remember as the paradise club, both are owned by the same person/family I recall, what movement has happened there?. To intend to buy this whole project, the council will know the expected amount of homes it includes, to confirm the funds needed could they now disclose the forecast spend and amount of homes this project is forecast to build?. How many of those homes will be for people born in Harlow and on the social /council housing list. Where are the intended finances coming from and how will that debt be repaid. Will these appartments be a community leasehold or a leasehold held by a company? Lastly, it seems far to often from these video's that the council when asked awkward but pertinent questions, they then start talking about private and closed meetings. May I remind the council that it will be the residents of Harlow that will end up paying for these structures and so full and open disclosure should be at the very front of all council matters.
ROSE
2025-03-29 07:53:08
It's about time they did something about the old cinema it's been like that for years ...and the man owns it is just sitting back and laughing at Harlow council it a joke ...Do something Harlow council ....
Kim
2025-03-29 10:45:20
Rose, I actually admire him Far to long councils, and developers have had they way far to long. They think they can bulldoze everything in sight, hence the road the road they built, by the old mill beefeater, came unstuck didn't they, if its in private hands, you carnt just bulldoze your way through it. Far to long , this has been happening. Ripping down our historical building s. Destroyed the environment. They came unstuck with the road, and hopefully there come unstuck with the cinema. Good on him for standing his ground.
Lol
2025-03-29 15:04:38
Yes, Kim, because he's really looked after that old Odeon and turned it into a beautiful Art House cinema... Oh wait, he hasn't. Shame, because it could be a real gem.
Robin L.
2025-03-29 20:32:12
Kim, I believe roads(& that includes the one you mentioned) are E.C.Cs. concern & not local town councils! Hence pot holes don't get sorted by Harlow C. (or any body for that matter😀)! I do agree that road & the story behind it after it was finished, is a shambles.
Leave a Comment Below:
10 Comments for Harlow Council vote to pursue purchase of major town centre site: