A key piece of infrastructure in Harlow has been successfully completed by Garden Town partners, Essex County Council, with the official opening of the new Cambridge Road junction at River Way and Templefields Industrial Estate last week.
The project provides new access to the Templefields Enterprise Zone, helping reduce the level of congestion travelling on Edinburgh Way, and providing a link to the future new communities.
It will also help support business and economic growth, creating more certainty with journey times and helping haulage vehicles reach the strategic network quicker and more efficiently.
Funded as part of the £171m investment by Homes England through the Housing Investment Grant, with a contribution from Harlow Council’s Towns Deal award, the project was also supported by Hertfordshire County Council and Harlow & Gilston Garden Town.
Harlow is undergoing a huge transformation and, as a pioneering new town, it is continuing to evolve with exciting growth proposals through the new Harlow & Gilston Garden Town programme and significant investment being made into the town, supporting the delivery of new homes and jobs.
This project marks the beginning of an exciting time for the town, with investment being made, huge growth opportunities and, through the Local Transport Plan and HGGT’s award winning Transport Strategy, a joined up and collaborative approach to transport infrastructure delivery.
“There’s always a concern from residents that infrastructure can be an afterthought but we’re doing this the right way with the Harlow & Gilston Garden Town project and ensuring these kind of projects are being delivered before the new housing” explained Hertfordshire County Council’s Phil Bradbury who is overseeing the management of the £171m Housing Infrastructure Grant for the Garden Town.
Harlow Council’s Cllr Alistair Gunn, Portfolio Holder for the Garden Town and Planning said: “Having provided £1.5m towards the new Cambridge Road junction works through the £23.7m Towns Fund that Harlow Council secured, it is very welcome that the road is now open.
“One of Harlow Council’s missions is to secure investment for the town’s future and this upgrade to our infrastructure is a good example of that in action.
“Indeed, the new junction is already supporting Harlow businesses on River Way.
“It is providing improved access and making the Templefields employment area even more attractive for major private investment, as we’ve seen with the recent arrival of LT Foods – a global rice manufacturer who have invested £7m in their new state of the art facility and aim to provide up to 100 new jobs.”
Looking ahead to the future Garden Town, the Cambridge Road junction will also help manage future traffic demand and support future housing plans and sustainable access to the seven Gilston villages and the proposed new community for East of Harlow as well as existing areas in New Hall and Gilden Park.
Essex County Council’s Deputy to the Leader, Cllr Lesley Wagland, said: “Connectivity is absolutely crucial and most of the people I speak with have moved on from being categorised as ‘not in my back yard’ and just want to see the appropriate infrastructure.
“Road schemes always take along while and it’s a huge thank you to everyone who not only lobbied and delivered this project but also had to bear with it.”
