11 June 2009
Public invited to ‘have their say’ on emerging proposals for Town Centre redevelopment
Harlow residents and businesses will have the chance to help shape the transformation of their town centre next month as dates have now been announced for a major Public Exhibition of the proposals for the Town Centre North scheme.
Taking place from Thursday 9th to Sunday 12th July, the Public Exhibition of the emerging proposals will include draft designs and plans for the 1.3 million sq ft scheme. The Development Team – a partnership between Harlow Council, Stockland, the international developer, and Harlow Renaissance – is asking people to come along to view the proposals and to have their say about the scheme.
Further publicity and promotion of the Public Exhibition will take place during the next few weeks. In addition, the Development Team is planning a series of briefings and meetings before the exhibition starts with other stakeholders across the town including members of Harlow Council, the Business Forum, and various landowners, traders, businesses, organisations and other local groups. A consultation website will also be launched next month.
Andy Macdonald, Head of Major Projects for Stockland, said:
"This Public Exhibition is part of an important and more broad-ranging programme of consultation which we are running during the summer. It’s about encouraging people with an interest in the town centre to come and meet the Development Team, to look at our emerging designs and ideas, and to tell us what they think. This way we can widen the discussion and, we hope, work towards a stronger set of overall proposals.”
The Town Centre North project is a major mixed-use scheme which will transform Harlow Town Centre. The regeneration of Town Centre North will re-integrate the northern area of the town centre and Market Square quarter with the Harvey Centre and the Water Gardens development to the south. The scheme includes retail, commercial and residential development alongside transformed public spaces, a new bus interchange, and new leisure facilities for the town.
The Public Exhibition will be taking place in the former Dorothy Perkins store at 27-29 Broad Walk (opposite McDonalds). As well as copies of draft designs, visitors to the Exhibition will have the opportunity to see a model and animated fly-through of the scheme. Members of the Development Team will be staffing the exhibition to discuss the proposals with visitors and to take feedback. Visitors are also being asked to complete feedback forms and return them to the Development Team.
Councillor Andrew Johnson, Leader of Harlow Council, said:
“The Town Centre North scheme is a fantastic opportunity to improve Harlow and its town centre. It is a exciting scheme which will help Harlow to be a stronger, more attractive and more successful place, whether for shopping, leisure, work or as a place to live. This Public Exhibition of the proposals is about inviting everyone with a stake in the town to come together and help us develop the very best plans. We hope that people will take this important opportunity and we look forward to welcoming them to the exhibition next month.”
Alongside Stockland, Harlow Council and Harlow Renaissance, the East of England Development Agency (EEDA), Essex County Council and the Homes & Communities Agency (HCA) are backing the scheme.
Public Exhibition opening hours:
Thursday 9th July – from 11am until 8pm
Friday 10th July – from 11am until 7pm
Saturday 11th July – from 11am until 5pm
Sunday 12th July – from 11am until 4pm
-ends-
Notes to editors:
The Town Centre North scheme has cross party support from Harlow Council. It includes approximately:
450,000 sq ft Retail
30,000 sq ft Restaurants/cafes
90,000 sq ft Leisure facilities
420,000 sq ft Residential
140,000 sq ft Office space
28,000 sq ft Library
60,000 sq ft Hotel
The development will raise the quality and appeal of facilities available in the town centre, underpinning Harlow’s ongoing regeneration and supporting its growth as an attractive place to live, work and visit. The development is also intended to work alongside other significant regeneration projects in the town, including the new Leisurezone sportcentre being delivered by the Harlow Gateway Project and Anglia Ruskin University’s new university campus.
Following public consultation during summer 2009, a planning application will be brought forward in 2010. Subject to planning permission the new development is expected to open in phases from late 2012. Harlow Council and Stockland will be working closely with all local retailers and employers in the town centre.
The Development Team is grateful to Courtenay Investments for kindly providing the former Dorothy Perkins unit on Broad Walk for use as the Public Exhibition venue.