Harlow council seeks High Court action over missing housing plans

The local authority is seeking an injunction as community facilities have failed to be built at a new Essex development.

Last week it was reported that residents have already moved in to Gilden Park in Harlow, Essex, where more than 1,000 homes have been built.

When the development was proposed, as well as building new homes, sports pitches, allotments, a community centre and retail units were claimed to also be constructed, however, they are yet to make an appearance.

The developers have apologised for the delay and said they were ‘fully committed’ to completing the work.

Alongside community developments a planned new primary school was also supposed to be completed on the site but that also hasn’t been completed.

Against this backdrop, under the Section 106 agreements – as part of the planning permission granted by Harlow Council – the developers Persimmon, Barratt David Wilson and Taylor Wimpey were supposed to provide a series of amenities.

The local authority said the three developers failed to provide an ‘enforceable and realistic programme’ when they were asked for an update on the works in June.

Conservative Harlow councillor, Michael Hardware, portfolio holder for economic development, said developers had not met ‘their end of the bargain’.

He added: ‘It is unfortunate that it has come to this. We must stand up for those residents who have moved in to Gilden Park and currently have no local facilities.’

 In a bid to help tackle the issue, the council have asked the High Court for permission to bring the injunction application, which would stop anyone moving into Gilden Park until the full works are complete.

A spokesperson for the Gilden Park Consortium said they ‘recognised’ people’s frustrations and apologised for incomplete facilities.

They said: ‘We are fully committed to delivering these facilities for residents and have been in discussions with Harlow Council in recent months in order to move this forward.’

Image: Harlow Council