18 June 2007
Harlow Renaissance and its Members - Harlow Council, Essex County Council, English Partnerships, and the East of England Development Agency are pleased to announce the four developers short-listed to undertake a major redevelopment of Market Square Quarter.
The regeneration of Market Square Quarter is a pivotal development for the Town Centre and towards the creation of a more significant sub regional role for Harlow. Partners are committed to securing a high quality development which will create more choice for shoppers and a greater range and provision of restaurants and entertainment uses which will bring life and vitality to the town centre out of normal shopping hours. This will be enhanced by opportunities for new residential development.
The final four developers have been selected via a process which began in February of this year. The release in February of an “Expression of Interest Document” by CB Richard Ellis on behalf of the partners resulted in sixteen Expressions of Interest from developers across the UK. From this nine developers were invited to submit statements setting out their approach to the development.
The Interview Panel was Chaired by Graeme Bloomer, Head of Regulation at Harlow Council, with representatives from all Harlow Renaissance members, as well as CB Richard Ellis, the market leading commercial real estate services provider.
The four short-listed developers are confirmed as:
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London & Regional
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Modus Developments
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Stockland Halladale
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Warner Estate
The buildings around the Market Square were amongst the first constructed in Harlow town centre and were designed to accommodate a mix of uses. The principal intent of the plan was that such uses would provide a local centre for the emerging residential communities close by. The Market Square also provides a setting for Ralph Brown’s Meatporters, itself Grade II listed, which was specially commissioned for the square and is an example of the considerable public art legacy across the town centre, as well as containing a number of interesting post war buildings and associated spaces such as Market House and the Market Square. The area is highly visible from the key approach to the town centre from the station.
Harlow Council’s Town Centre Strategy makes clear that all proposals for new development must be balanced with the need to retain small local businesses and provide a range of opportunities and premises that will appeal to a broad cross section of town centre users, developers and investors.
Peter Martin, Deputy Leader of Essex County Council, said:
“Harlow is one of Essex County Council’s priority towns for regeneration. The strong sense of community and rich New Town heritage provide the basis for making Harlow town centre a most attractive and appealing location for business, leisure and living. The quality of proposals for the scheme underlines this as a key development opportunity."
Andrew Bramidge, Chief Executive, Harlow Renaissance:
“We’ve been very pleased with the exceptional response to this tender process which shows Harlow is clearly on the map, and that major developers are actively competing to invest in Harlow’s future.”
Graeme Bloomer, Head of Regulation, Harlow Council:
“This is great news for Harlow. The Water Gardens development has rejuvenated the south of the town centre and increased visitors. This has been good for trade and the overall economic well being of the town. We have short listed a number of very competent and experienced developers to do the same for the Market Square Quarter and look forward to seeing the area revitalised and thriving once again."
Following formal approval of the four developers at Harlow Council’s Policy and Resources Committee on 28th June, the developers will now receive the full development brief, and be asked to submit detailed proposals by early Autumn. Following assessment of these proposals an appointment will be made by the end of the year. Work will then start on developing detailed proposals through public consultation to achieve a planning permission by 2009, with work starting in 2010.
Harlow Renaissance is currently in the process of appointing a Town Centre Development Manager who will develop on-going dialogue with retailers and stakeholders on the Market Square Quarter regeneration and other developments within the town centre.