Harlow & Gilston Garden Town were in London for the Building New Communities conference last month, a timely chance to reflect on what it really takes to deliver places that last.
Hosted at Kings Place in Kings Cross, the event brought together voices from across housing, infrastructure and local government.
HGGT was represented by Kevin Steptoe (East Herts District Council), where plans for 10,000 new homes are coming forward at Gilston, and Adeola Pilgrim (Epping Forest District Council), who is overseeing proposals for Water Lane, Latton Priory and East of Harlow.
For Adeola, discussions around devolution, investment and long‑term delivery stood out as HGGT begins to move into the construction phase:
“Speakers highlighted how early de-risking of infrastructure, alongside funding models that extend beyond political cycles, can give investors confidence and help places succeed,” said Adeola.
“That resonates directly with our Garden Town programme as housing growth at Gilston, Water Lane, Latton Priory and East of Harlow depend on infrastructure being planned and funded holistically, not in isolation.”
“The conference reinforced the importance of creating the right conditions for sustained investment, rather than focusing on short-term delivery alone.”
Panels throughout the day placed a focus on clear priorities, strong civic partnerships and long-term stewardship, all themes shaping how HGGT is approaching delivery.
For Kevin, a key takeaway was the focus on connecting new development with existing communities: “There was a strong emphasis on creating healthy, resilient communities, and on meaningful, ongoing engagement, not just during the planning stages of development, but also as new places begin to emerge.”
Panellists also shared practical examples of how secure stewardship arrangements can support community cohesion over the long term.
“We’re already prioritising this at HGGT and have engaged regularly with our communities, working to embed stewardship models with strong local involvement, so communities can flourish well beyond the initial build-out phase as they evolve into new neighbourhoods,” added Kevin.
With Harlow & Gilston Garden Town being one of the most ambitious regeneration and development programmes in the country, events like the Building New Communities conference are a valuable reminder that successful places go beyond the build phase and must be nurtured and invested in over the long term.
