Staple Tye is a key centre for the Southern Corridor of Harlow and an important potential catalyst to the regeneration of the whole area. This project seeks to trigger a number of strategic property-led moves which will contribute to the physical and socio-economic regeneration of the area and provide additional housing units to meet the needs of the existing local residents and future population growth. The project will deliver new health, community and leisure facilities, enabling the release of land for future housing developments and trigger the regeneration of the wider area.
In 2007 and 2008 Harlow Renaissance carried out consultation in the area on the regeneration opportunities. This was primarily driven by the need to provide a larger health centre to replace Lister House, the re-location of which would then provide wider opportunities.
In November 2008 Harlow Renaissance secured outline planning consent on behalf of Harlow Health Centre’s Trust for the development of a new health centre immediately north of Southern Way. This is to be located on the site of some redundant tennis courts, the replacement of which is a requirement of the planning consent. The wider scheme will then provide some new sports and leisure facilities in conjunction with the Great Parndon Community Association to deliver that commitment. Harlow Renaissance has been working with the GPCA and Harlow Council on the detailed plans for this and it is hoped that works on this will start later in 2011.
The Health Centre will be built by Harlow Health Centres Trust, the owners of Lister House. They have appointed architects and aim to submit a planning application for the detailed design of the new health centre in the summer of 2011.
Future Development Opportunities
The eventual relocation of the Lister House Health Centre to the north of Southern Way prompted Harlow Renaissance to explore the scope for the wider regeneration of the area.
Strettons Chartered Surveyors were appointed by Harlow Renaissance, via competitive tender, to explore the scope for the wider regeneration of the area adjacent to the Lister House site, both in the short and medium term.
Consideration was given to the potential availability of land within the immediate vicinity of the Lister House site, and possible opportunities for property-led moves that could release land for development.
Harlow Renaissance believes that clear opportunities exist for property-led regeneration within the vicinity of the Lister House site, in both the short and longer term. Potential regeneration opportunities have been identified, including extending the retail frontage along Southern Way - given the prominent frontage that the Lister House site has to Southern Way and its location adjacent to Staple Tye Shopping Centre. Other opportunities include a high quality residential development comprising a mix of house-types and tenures, alongside some employment and community facilities which are better integrated with the existing shopping centre.
Harlow Council is currently preparing a Growth Fund bid to assist with the cost of progressing the delivery of the new health centre, and will further consider the opportunities that exist for regeneration in the preparation of a Local Action Plan for the South West Harlow area.
For more information on any of the above issues, please contact Harlow Council’s Regeneration Team at regen.enquiries@harlow.gov.uk