We recently responded to a government planning consultation entitled ‘Supporting housing delivery and public service infrastructure’. This contained proposals  to extend Permitted Development Rights allowing conversions from a broad class of commercial properties to residential. We have strongly objected to this.  In Harlow, there have been more than 1,100 residential units created from office conversions under the…

The Princess Alexandra NHS Hospital Trust is hosting two virtual public meetings to update on its plans for the new hospital. Hospital staff will give their vision for the new hospital and the architects will present design ideas for the main hospital welcome and reception areas.  There will be an opportunity  to question the hospital team on…

We send all our members and supporters very best wishes for Christmas and the New Year. We have all had a challenging  year and we very much hope that you have kept safe and well. As a Society we have only been able to hold one event in September – the well received walk around Newhall….

Our autumn 2020 newsletter is now available to download or view here. Read about Our new Just Giving page where you can donate to the plaque to celebrate the Alberni Quartet – see https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/harlowcivicsociety Our response to the ‘Planning for the Future’ White Paper John Curry’s letter to the Daily Telegraph praising Harlow’s sculptures. An…

Harlow Civic Society (HCS) has submitted a response to the government white paper ‘Planning for the Future’, claimed to make the planning system for development ‘simpler, faster and more predictable’.  Although we agree that the current planning system does need changes, Harlow Civic Society (HCS) believes that the wholesale changes set out in the document…

The Harlow and Gilston Garden Town (HGGT) aims to set the agenda for sustainable and healthy living  and has prepared a Healthy Garden Framework and Sustainability Guidance and Checklist. This is to provide practical guidance to developers and planners on how to achieve and assess high quality environmental, social and economic sustainability and health in the…

Voting for the Green Flag People’s Choice award for 2020 is now open until 25 November. This is a public vote for the top ten parks in the country. Why not show your appreciation for Harlow’s four 2020 award winners and all the hard work that staff and volunteers put in to keep them so…

It was recently announced that four sites in Harlow have won Green Flag awards for 2020/21. It’s the 12th for Parndon Wood, 5th for the Town Park, 4th for Harlow Mill and a first for Harlow Museum Walled Gardens. The Green Flag Awards scheme recognises well-managed parks and green spaces, setting the benchmark standard for…

We have written to Robert Halfon MP in advance of the Parliamentary debate on the Planning White paper that will take place on Thursday 8th October. The letter is given below and contains a link to the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) briefing on the White Paper. CPRE is also running a petition on…

You will no doubt have seen in local and national media that the government is consulting on radical changes to the current planning system whose framework was established by the 1947 Town and Country Planning Act. The proposals and the consultation, open until 29th October, can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/planning-for-the-future/planning-for-the-future#basic-information We will be responding to…