Garden Town partner Harlow Council have begun a major rebuild of the Town Centre with the demolition of the derelict Occasio House site.
Over the coming months the whole site, which includes the main six-storey block, will be cleared as part of a phased programme to enable delivery of a £20m Arts and Cultural Quarter project that will serve existing residents and the new Garden Town communities.
The scheme, which the council secured a £20million government grant for, will include:
– A new live performance/music venue
– Major upgrades to the Playhouse Theatre
– New pedestrian focused and engaging public square for events, outdoor performances, cinema, and outdoor dining
– Contemporary bar and café
– Artist and maker studio spaces
– High-quality residential apartments
– Flexible studios for creative and performing arts, rehearsal space, events, smaller and outdoor performances, and community uses
– Associated spaces for literary arts, spoken word, education events and visiting exhibitions and installations
– Green pocket park with natural play installations
– Accessibility provisions including disabled parking and accessibly designed spaces
– Upgraded and secure underpass beneath Haydens Road
Occasio House has been empty and derelict since 2016 with the buildings covered in aluminium composite material (ACM), similar to the cladding used on Grenfell Tower.
Councillor Dan Swords, Leader of Harlow Council and Garden Town Board Member, said: “Today signals a crucial moment for the regeneration of town centre and our priority to rebuild of our town with the beginning of the demolition of the derelict Occasio House site.
“The phased demolition will enable delivery of our £20m regeneration scheme which will transform the Playhouse and College squares with a new live performance venue, upgrades to Harlow Playhouse, high quality residential apartments and much more besides.
“There is no doubt that the demise of the Occasio House buildings is a sad one – these have stood derelict, unfit for use and blighting this area of the town centre for too long.
“The action we are taking will ensure we inject new life into this part of the town centre and restore pride as part of our phased approach to regenerating the whole town centre.”
