6 July 2009
Public invited to ‘have their say’ on emerging proposals for Town Centre redevelopment
Initial designs for the 1.3 million sq ft Harlow Town Centre North regeneration scheme are unveiled this week as development partners Harlow Council and Stockland are encouraging people in the town to ‘give us your views and ideas’.
A Public Exhibition of the proposals opens on Thursday 9 July, continuing through to Sunday 12 July, and will feature detailed images and explanations of the proposals. The Exhibition, which will be held in the former Dorothy Perkins unit at 27-29 Broad Walk in the town centre, will be hosted by members of the development team who are keen to hear what people have to say about the draft designs and to get their feedback.
The Town Centre North project is a major scheme which will transform Harlow Town Centre. The regeneration of a significant area of the Town Centre 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.
At the Exhibition, visitors will be able to fill out feedback forms and let the development team know what they think about the initial designs. The designs will then be developed further prior to a formal planning application being submitted in 2010.
The Public Exhibition will also include a scale model showing how the scheme could help transform Harlow Town Centre into a more attractive destination as well as an animated fly-through of the scheme using CGI graphics.
A new consultation website – http://www.harlowtowncentrenorth.co.uk/ – is being launched this week (Wednesday 8 July) to help people find out more about the proposals and to register comments on-line. The website will include details of the images, plans and display panels which will be on show at the Exhibition and a ‘comment on the plans’ e-mail link. The consultation extends throughout the summer and the team will also be attending the Harlow Town Show on 6 September to update people on progress.
Members of Harlow Council received a preview of the Exhibition on Monday 6 July and special events are also taking place with the Town Centre Business Forum, Civic Society and other stakeholders ahead of the public exhibition opening on Thursday 9 July.
Andy Macdonald, Head of Major Projects for Stockland, said:
"Together with our partners, we have developed these draft proposals with professional and technical advice so we can make this the most successful scheme for Harlow. What we need now are the views of the people that really matter – the people who live and work in the town. This Public Exhibition is the ideal opportunity for people to help us with their expertise and know how. I hope that many people will want to take that opportunity and will input to this process. The results will be the stronger for it.”
Councillor Andrew Johnson, Harlow Council’s Leader, said:
“The Town Centre North scheme is a fantastic opportunity to improve Harlow and its town centre. We are now at a very exciting point in the project with the plans starting to come to life. There are some very impressive visuals of the scheme being unveiled and people can now see what the scheme could look like and how it can transform the whole town centre. We want as many people as possible to let us know what they think so we can develop the very best plans for the town centre. This is the start of ongoing consultation with residents, traders, businesses and anyone else with a stake in the town.”
Councillor Chris Millington, Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group on the Council, said:
“This scheme will improve the town centre and play a big part in Harlow’s continued regeneration. It is at this stage that the plans, which people can now view, really start to get the interest of the community. We want to ensure that as the plans develop they take on board the views of those who matter – residents, traders and businesses. Therefore it’s important that as many people as possible visit the public exhibition or the website to let us know what they think.”
Councillor Mark Wilkinson, Leader of the Labour Group on the Council, said:
“The Town Centre North scheme will make a huge difference to whole town centre and these unveiled plans really show the impact the scheme will have. I would encourage as many people as possible to view the plans and have their say because this scheme is so important for Harlow’s future. We want residents, traders and businesses to really feel part of this exciting scheme and they can do this by telling us what they think.”
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.
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