Harlow and Gilston Garden Town

In addition to new homes, the site will deliver a significant amount of new infrastructure including schools, health facilities and parks. Substantial financial contributions will also be made to off-site infrastructure, such as new roads and bridges to improve connectivity over the River Stort. 

The Gilston Area forms part of the wider Harlow and Gilston Garden Town (HGGT), which was designated a Garden Town by the Ministry for Homes, Communities and Local Government in January 2017, and will include the development of 23,000 new homes across new neighbourhoods to the east, west, and south of Harlow, and the Gilston Area to the north. East Herts District Council is working with Harlow Council, Epping Forest District Council, Hertfordshire County Council, Essex County Council and Homes England to plan this growing community and to ensure that we deliver a development of the highest quality and that is reflective of Garden Town principles.

Further details about the HGGT and its associated publications which are a material consideration in planning decision making can be viewed on the Harlow and Gilston Garden Town website.

As well as working with other local authorities and statutory bodies, the council is committed through its Statement of Community Involvement (SCI) and District Plan to ensuring that engagement with the local community at every stage of the planning process is undertaken. A Gilston Area Community Engagement Strategy has been produced with input from representatives of the local parishes, which aims to establish how the various parties involved in the growth of the Gilston Area will undertake engagement, collaboration and co-operation with the community at various stages of the planning process. 

Latest News

East Herts and Harlow Councils give notice that Places for People Developments Ltd have submitted further information and evidence relating to the Environmental Statement submitted in support of the following applications:

1. Outline planning application with all matters reserved apart from external vehicular access for a mixed use development of up to 8,500 homes for a part of the Gilston Area (East Herts Council Reference 3/19/1045/OUT);
2. Detailed planning application for alterations to the existing Fifth Avenue bridge (East Herts Council Reference 3/19/1046/FUL, Harlow Council Reference HW/CRB/19/00220);
3. Detailed planning application for erection of a new road, pedestrian and cycle bridge (East Herts Council Reference 3/19/1051/FUL, Harlow Council Reference HW/CRB/19/00221)

You can view a copy of the further information for the environmental statement 97C_ES and ES Addendum: Further Information Report, along with all other planning application documents submitted by visiting our planning portal using the references set out above, where you can also make comments online.

Comments may also be made in writing, sending them to East Herts Council at Wallfields, Pegs Lane, Hertford, SG13 8EQ to be received by 5pm on 24 May 2021. All comments should be directed only to East Herts Council which will be making them available to Harlow Council. Each Council will still be required to determine the applications in due course through their respective decision making processes and all comments submitted will be reported as appropriate to the Committees of both Councils.

Copies of the information can be inspected and obtained for £15 at our offices in Hertford and Bishop’s Stortford up until 24 May 2021. Appointments need to be made in advance to visit the offices via the Contact us page on our website or by calling 07739 285526.

Recent News

Following feedback from the community, the council and statutory consultees, both applicants made a series of changes to their applications which were subject to a further public consultation at the end of 2020 and in early 2021. 
Officers are currently reviewing the feedback from consultation and the applications remain under consideration by the council. Everyone who responded will be notified about when a decision will be taken on the applications. 

Please see the Gilston Area Planning Applications Summary  for a summary of the various planning applications and our Harlow & Gilston frequently asked questions page which provides further details on the project.

Other related publications: 

Gilston Area Concept Framework and Council Report (approved as a Material planning Consideration on 25 July 2018)

• Gilston Area Concept Framework [252MB]
• Gilston Area Concept Framework Council Report [68KB]
• Gilston Area Concept Framework-Executive Report 12 June 2018

Project updates