Harlow has a current transport infrastructure deficit – anyone who has driven through Harlow at peak hours will have been caught in the gridlock that frequently affects the town. The issue that we face is not only how to resolve the town’s current transport difficulties, but how to plan for significant housing and economic growth in the future.
In many ways, Harlow appears to have ideal transport links. Located at junction 7 of the M11, a few miles north of the M25 and just 12 miles from Stansted Airport, these road links are complemented by rail links into Liverpool Street and Stratford. However, this masks some structural weaknesses:
- The location of Harlow’s industry on the northern and western sides of the town creates congestion, as the motorway link is to the east
- A town that has a resident population of 80,000 and a working population of 40,000 struggles to cope with only two major routes into and out of the town
- The bulk of the proposed new housing growth to the north and east of the town is located away from the only motorway access
- The major east-west route from mid-Essex through Hertfordshire to the A10 (the A414) runs directly through the town and through one of the main industrial areas, with through traffic contributing significantly to internal congestion
- Although only 12 miles from Stansted Airport, the town effectively looks away from the airport since the road access lies to the south of the town
Harlow will see significant growth over the next decade and beyond. The precise nature and locations of this growth are currently being determined through Harlow’s Local Development Framework process (www.harlow.gov.uk/ldf), but it is clear that Harlow Council wishes to implement a growth programme, for which there is cross party political consensus.
It is difficult to see how this growth can be accommodated without significant improvements to the town, and sub-regional, transport infrastructure. The impact of Harlow’s growth must also be combined with housing and employment growth across mid and west Essex as well as along the M11 corridor to fully identify the requirements for transportation improvements. The larger scale, and longer term, transport measures must be seen in a wider regional context and not just relating to Harlow because of the importance of east-west movements between Essex and Hertfordshire.
Harlow Renaissance has worked through its partners, particularly Essex County Council and the Harlow-Stansted Gateway Transportation Board, to help deliver a series of transport improvements for the Harlow area. This includes short term improvements to traffic movement around the town as well as planning for the necessary infrastructure to support the town’s future growth. Harlow Renaissance supports the calls for an additional motorway junction to the north east of Harlow, as well as enhancements to the railway services operating from Harlow Town and Harlow Mill stations.
The remaining pages in this section of the website describe how Harlow Renaissance has contributed to the development of improved transport provision in Harlow.