Strawberry Star gets go ahead for 578 homes in Harlow

Harlow Council has granted developer Strawberry Star permission to build 578 new flats

The council last night approved the homes, which will be built as part of a scheme called Harlow Quarter in two 16-storey towers.

It had already approved an earlier application for 163 new homes on part of the same brownfield site, which was once occupied by a shopping parade and office building. 

The council’s approval of the scheme, which is being designed by architects Flanagan Lawrence, followed several consultations with Harlow and Essex councils.

Harlow Quarter’s 741 new apartments will range from studios to three-bedroom family homes, and will be built alongside 3,000 sq m of flexible commercial space. 

Planning officers said of the scheme: “The proposals would dramatically change and revitalise an underused and somewhat ‘run-down’ part of the town centre.” 

Santhosh Gowda, chair of Strawberry Star, said: “When Harlow new town was built it was an exciting new way of living, and the town centre buzzed with life. But 70 years later, the heart had gone out of the centre as online shopping and working from home emptied the streets.” 

He added: “Harlow Quarter will create a new buzz for a new generation – revitalising the centre of town with new homes, new businesses and a new style of urban living.”

The scheme’s approval is subject to a section 106 planning gain agreement. The planning committee report said currently no affordable housing is being provided, despite the council’s local plan having a policy of 30% affordable.

The report said: “The viability has been through independent review and this concludes that the scheme has significant viability issues. To ensure the delivery of the regeneration benefits of the scheme there is currently no surplus for aspects such as affordable housing”

Dan Swords, Harlow’s deputy council leader and portfolio holder for regeneration, said the development is expected to bring about £50m of investment to the town centre. 

Strawberry Star announced earlier this year it had appointed former Bloor Homes director Simon Taylor as its development director, to lead on the £1bn expansion of the group’s built-to-rent platform, Star Living. It aims to target commuter towns with this BTR arm.