13 May 2010
Statement from Harlow Council:
Stockland announced in summer 2009 that it would be undertaking a gradual withdrawal from the UK as a result of global financial conditions. Stockland has now confirmed that it will also be withdrawing from the Harlow Town Centre North project.
Both Harlow Council and Harlow Renaissance are working closely with their partners to ensure that the Town Centre scheme is able to go ahead following Stockland’s withdrawal and will be looking to procure a new development partner to deliver the scheme.
The development partnership, including the Council, Harlow Renaissance and Stockland have made excellent progress with the scheme to date - refining the design, addressing the issues raised in consultation such as traffic management and parking, and working with a number of key retailers and leisure operators who are interested in taking space in the revitalised town centre.
Town Centre North is an important project for the town and will deliver major investment and improvements for Harlow. The Council and Harlow Renaissance remain confident that the scheme will be delivered and expect it to be open by 2016. More details will be available as discussions progress over the coming weeks.
Councillor Andrew Johnson, Leader of Harlow Council, said:
“It is disappointing that Stockland have decided to pull out of the UK, but we are still in a great position to deliver this scheme for Harlow. We have done a great deal of work to take the scheme forward, building on the huge public support for the scheme, and have a number of important anchor tenants keen to move to the revitalised town centre. The Council, Harlow Renaissance and other partners will be working hard to ensure that the scheme is delivered.”
Councillor Mark Wilkinson, Leader of the Labour Group on Harlow Council, said:
“Circumstances may have changed, but our commitment to regenerating the town centre remains just as strong as ever. None of the work done so far will be wasted, and we will continue to drive the scheme forward. The strong private sector interest in the scheme puts us in a good position to ensure it is delivered.”
Councillor Chris Millington, Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group on Harlow Council, said:
“Stockland leave the scheme with a huge amount of work having been completed, and at a point where we are well placed to move forward in the coming months. The regeneration of the town centre is a must for Harlow and we are confident that it will happen.”
Statement from Andy Macdonald, Head of Major Projects, Stockland:
"Harlow Town Centre North is a fantastic scheme and it is with regret that we at Stockland will not be here to see its completion. The comprehensive redevelopment of Harlow’s town centre will become a great asset to local residents and retailers. We’d like to thank the people of Harlow for their involvement in the scheme to date and we look forward to seeing Harlow Council and its partners deliver this once in a lifetime transformational project."
FURTHER INFORMATION
1. Why, if the team has known that Stockland will pull out of the UK since September 2009, has the decision only just been made?
In August 2009, Stockland announced that it was committed to a gradual withdrawal from the UK over a number of years but remained committed to all existing agreements and relationships, including the development of Harlow Town Centre North. The development team, including Stockland, had every expectation that Stockland would maintain its involvement in the scheme through to completion. However as Stockland's exit timetable has crystallised, it has recently become clear that they are not in a position to complete the scheme.
2. Is it possible for TCN to continue?
Yes, Harlow Town Centre North is continuing and will still be delivered and the Council will be seeking to procure a new development partner. The core partners, including Harlow Council, Harlow Renaissance, Essex County Council, EEDA and the HCA remain fully committed to the scheme and have every expectation it will be completed. The improvement of the town centre is too important for the town for this not to happen.
The partners will continue to take the proposals forward, led by Harlow Council and making use of Harlow Renaissance’s development expertise. Significant progress has been made with a number of interested key anchor tenants and those discussions are ongoing as an essential part of shaping the scheme. Interest in the proposals from retailers remains strong; indeed, there is significant competition for the main retail units proposed in the development. A strong amount of preparatory and necessary work has also been completed giving the scheme Town Centre North an excellent platform for moving forward.
3. Will TCN continue and if so, to what timescale?
In light of Stockland’s decision, the detailed work programme for Harlow Town Centre North is being reviewed. The team will have more information on the development timetable in the next few weeks. It is expected that, subject to planning, Harlow Town Centre North will open in 2016, however, schemes of this nature are extremely complex and with the uncertainty in the wider economy it would be wrong to give any firm guarantees.
4. Does Harlow Council own the rights to the plans?
Yes, the Council has ownership of the plans and has full access to all of the information gathered to date and required as part of preparing the planning application. The development team will continue to progress the proposals.
5. What is the role of the consultant team and how will they now be funded?
The partners will maintain the relationship with existing consultants who have been developing the plans to date and will also be looking to bring in a new private sector development company to help manage the delivery of the scheme. Work will be financed via Growth Area Funding, which has been provided by central Government and the Homes & Communities Agency, together with funding from EEDA, to support the growth and regeneration of the Harlow area.