Harlow Council and international developer Stockland have signed an agreement that will see the two organisations join forces on a major 1.3 million square foot mixed use scheme, which will transform Harlow Town Centre.

The agreement unlocks the next stage in the planned regeneration of the northern quarter of the town centre and will enable designs to be brought forward ahead of a planning application being submitted in 2010.

The development proposals will signify a major step-change for the town, aimed at transforming Harlow into a sub-regional shopping centre. The regeneration of Town Centre North will re-integrate the northern area of the town centre and Market Square quarter with the Harvey Centre and the Water Gardens development to the south.

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Extensive public consultation will take place, with the scheme looking to incorporate new retail space, including a department store and new foodstore, new homes, restaurants, a hotel, office space, a new library and a new bus station. Leisure facilities including a new cinema, the re-provision of the market and transformed public spaces will also feature in the scheme. The Council is also working on a separate project to develop proposals to include a theatre in the development.

Approximately 500 new homes are proposed as part of the development, helping to meet local demand and to bring more residential units into the town centre itself.

Alongside Stockland and Harlow Council, the East of England Development Agency (EEDA), Essex County Council and the Homes & Communities Agency (HCA) are backing the scheme.

The announcement is a major boost for the town at a time when many town centre regeneration projects are being shelved in other areas due to the current economic climate.

(CD/JM)