Harlow Council has revealed a record-breaking budget for 2026/27, featuring the highest level of investment in council housing in the town's history.

The proposed £350 million budget allocates £179 million specifically to council homes and housing services, marking a 31% increase in housing spend compared to last year and a 137% rise since 2021/22.

The financial plan divides the housing budget into £68 million for revenue spending on services and £111 million for capital investment. This capital funding is designated for the construction of new council homes and the upgrading of existing properties. According to the council, the budget is fully funded and sustainable, requiring no service cuts or unidentified savings to meet its targets.

This surge in funding follows several recent milestones for the council's housing department, including a 90% reduction in standard repair times and the lowest number of outstanding repairs on record. Furthermore, the council invested £51 million in property upgrades during 2025/26 and has delivered more new council homes recently than in the previous 30 years combined. Administrative changes also saw £1 million redirected from senior management costs at HTS into the frontline repairs service.

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The 2026/27 proposals also support the continued implementation of a new Housing Allocations Policy, which aims to ensure local homes are prioritised for Harlow residents.

Councillor David Carter, Cabinet Member for Housing, commented: "This is investment on a scale Harlow has simply never seen before. It will right the wrongs of decades of underinvestment into council homes and make a dramatic different for council tenants."

"Every pound we are investing is about giving Harlow families the safe, modern, and secure homes they deserve. We are transforming existing properties, building new council homes for the next generation, and raising standards right across our housing stock."

"Building Harlow's Future means putting housing at the heart of our plans – and this record investment shows we are delivering on that promise with ambition, confidence, and pride."

The budget is set to underpin the council's long-term regeneration strategy, providing financial stability while driving improvements across the town's wider infrastructure.