INTRODUCTION. The proposals will greatly enhance the appearance of the area within a high quality, mixed use scheme.

Transcription

1 INTRODUCTION Welcome to this public exhibition which presents the proposals for the redevelopment of the Northern area of Harlow Town Centre, from Little Walk to East Gate and West Gate. Building upon their knowledge and understanding of harlow town, owners of the harvey centre, addington capital believe that this scheme will not only rejuvenate the retail provision and public realm but also provide much needed new homes. The proposals will greatly enhance the appearance of the area within a high quality, mixed use scheme. Please take a look at the information we have provided on the exhibition boards. Members of the project team are on hand to answer any questions you may have. 1

2 preserving HARLOW S HERITAGE Designed by Sir Fredrick Gibberd and developed during the late 1940s, Harlow New Town quickly became an example of post-war town planning and led the way in a new wave of design and development. Despite there being several town centre redevelopments over the past few years, the majority of the remaining buildings have become dilapidated and in need of replacement. Building upon this unique design heritage, this scheme will once again allow Harlow to lead the way in rethinking town centre planning, combining retail space with residential dwellings and bringing a rejuvenated heart back into the town. Harlow has an opportunity to change perceptions of the town and transform the town centre by combining Sir Frederick Gibberd s founding principles with contemporary urban design. It should also be noted that we will work closely with the Council and relevant groups to help preserve the memorial and art sculpture which are both close to the site. 2

3 THE SITE The redevelopment will include part of the Harvey Centre from Broad Walk to West Gate and East Gate providing connectivity through to the rest of the town. Work is already underway to improve the Centre with a new area known as The Terrace which will include a 6-screen cinema opening on the 9th December, along with 4 new restaurants opening in early The former M&S site is also being transformed. The new retail space already includes Starbucks, Holland and Barrett, Peacocks, Nationwide, Papa s Café, F Hinds and Gym s Kitchens along with a 30,000 sq ft gym run by Exercise 4 Less. 3

4 PROPOSALS Currently, the site forms part of the existing Harvey Centre and is predominantly made up of retail and commercial space, many of which are vacant. Our plans are for a new retail and residential scheme in the area of Broad Walk, East Gate and West Gate which will deliver circa 442 new residential units (including affordable housing) alongside 3,100 sq m of commercial space. Benefits of the proposed scheme 4 Mix of tenures including PRS (Private Rented Sector) Additional parking spaces Cycle bays Open space New routes through the town centre Mix of different types of homes ranging from studio apartments to family dwellings

5 RETAIL Retailing in Harlow is now dominated by the Water Gardens and the Harvey Centre and as a result, there is low footfall and retail demand in this location. Our plans are for a new retail and residential scheme in the area of Broad Walk, East Gate and West Gate which will deliver circa 442 new residential units (including affordable housing) alongside 3,100 sq m of commercial space. 5

6 residential Bringing homes into the town centre will create vibrancy with activity during the day and evening. This is the most sustainable way to bring investment and regeneration to the town, particularly in the age of internet shopping. At the same time, this addresses the need for new housing across a range of mix and types which is a priority within Harlow. 6

7 PARKING & TRAFFIC Parking The proposal includes parking for the residential element which seeks to strike an appropriate balance between providing sufficient capacity to meet demand (based on local car ownership data) but also encourage residents to travel by sustainable modes of transport (such as walking, cycling and public transport) in accordance with the Government s sustainable development policies. Parking will be provided on site, with additional car parking for residents provided within the existing Harvey Centre car park. Regular shoppers at the Harvey Centre will not be affected by these changes. We have undertaken extensive studies on car park usage in the town centre and have established that there is significant capacity within many of the multi-storey car parks within the town centre. Traffic Impact The traffic impact of the proposal has commenced. Traffic surveys have been carried out at surrounding junctions and the additional traffic generated by the development will be robustly estimated and tested using the latest modelling software, to ensure the development doesn t impact on the surrounding area. Sustainability Cycle parking will be provided and a Travel Plan will be in place to promote sustainable transport. A new car club on-site will be investigated to reduce the need to own a private car and provide greater flexibility. Disabled parking spaces will be provided for wheelchair users and will be accessible from the main residential buildings. 7

8 REGENERATING HARLOW TOWN CENTRE This project represents a significant opportunity to redevelop and reenergise Harlow town centre. The site was last refurbished in 1995 and it is now run down in parts and suffers from a lack of retailer demand, preventing significant investment in the site. Recent out of town developments and the increase in internet and delivery shopping has also brought significant challenges to the way in which town centres cannot simply survive but thrive. A number of redevelopment projects have been completed in Harlow in recent years, in recognition of the need to deliver new housing to meet local need as well as garner further investment into the area. It is hoped that new housing will reinvigorate the parts of Harlow that are in need of investment to avoid future decline. Addington Capital believes that this scheme represents the next logical step in the town centre regeneration.. 8

9 WIDER ASPIRATION FOR HARLOW TOWN CENTRE We plan to hold meetings with Harlow Council to see if there is any possibility to improve the public realm not only around the site but also on a wider scale in the town centre. The image above shows how this could look in practice. It should be noted that this is an aspiration at this moment in time, pending discussion with Harlow Council. 9

10 THANK YOU & CONTACT DETAILS FEEDBACK Next Steps Thank you for taking the time to attend this public exhibition to present our vision for the redevelopment of Harlow Town Centre. We are keen to hear the views of attendees and the local community and this is the principle reason for holding the event. Please provide your comments by completing one of the feedback forms and placing it into the comments box. Alternatively you can take a form away with you and return it to the project team by using the contact details provided below. After this public exhibition, we will be reviewing the feedback received from the local community and holding further meetings with local stakeholders. We are looking to submit a planning application to the council in early 2017 and will keep members of the community updated throughout the process. Contact details You can get in touch with the project team through the following methods: Call: joel@snapdragonconsulting.co.uk Write to: Snapdragon Consulting Wellington House East Road Cambridge CB1 1BH Web: 10