The council has stated that it “does not believe the current proposals would deliver the improvements and investment the town needs”.
An outline planning application for the proposed Latton Priory development, located on Harlow’s southern border within the Epping Forest District and for up to 1,340 homes, was submitted last October by Commercial Estates Projects Ltd and Hallam Land.
Consultation has been taking place since then, with Harlow Council encouraging residents to engage with the application.
Harlow Council’s detailed, 13-page response explains that despite supporting the principle of development at Latton Priory in line with the Harlow and Gilston Garden Town initiative, having reviewed the plans it has a number of “substantial concerns”.
Its response outlines that if granted the application as submitted would have a detrimental impact on Harlow’s residents and place pressure on existing services and facilities in the district.
It would fail to deliver the transport infrastructure needed to reduce the impact of the development on the road network, including local routes in Harlow such as Rye Hill Road and Junction 7 on the M11.
Harlow Council also highlighted a lack of funding for other infrastructure.
This includes enhancements to Harlow Town Station, bus service provision, indoor sports facilities, public art to support Harlow’s status as a sculpture town, libraries, Harlow Museum and for household waste and recycling facilities.
A lack of clarity and reassurance on providing the new healthcare and education facilities the development will need was also given as grounds for objecting to the application.
Alastair Gunn, councillor responsible holder for garden town and planning, said: “When the Latton Priory planning application was submitted last year, I said we would review the application in detail and submit a formal response that focused on the needs of Harlow residents, and on securing the best possible outcome for the town as a whole.
“In objecting to this application, that is what we have done.
“Unfortunately, after carefully reviewing the Latton Priory application, we found several areas of concern.”
