The long-awaited transformation of Harlow Town Centre’s Market Square will begin next month with Hill Partnerships leading the ambitious regeneration.
Underpinned by a £23.7 million investment from Government’s Towns Fund, the scheme promises to deliver a dynamic new destination for leisure, hospitality and community life featuring:
Contemporary bars and restaurants
Retail spaces
High-quality housing
A striking water feature
Revitalised open-air market for pop up stall vendors
Garden Town partners, Harlow Council, have also acquired Market House and Adams House, bringing the iconic Market Square clock under local stewardship for the first time in decades.
The clock, a cherished emblem of Harlow’s post-war heritage, will be carefully restored and reinstalled as a focal point of the new public realm.
Hill Partnership’s construction on Market Square is scheduled to commence in October and conclude by spring 2026.
Work is also beginning shortly on the town’s bus station and Playhouse Square, laying the foundations for a modern transport hub and a vibrant cultural quarter in the heart of Harlow.
These developments will complement ongoing improvements across Broad Walk, East Gate, and other key areas—collectively reshaping Harlow into a thriving centre for residents, businesses, visitors and the wider Garden Town area.
Councillor Dan Swords, Leader of Harlow Council and HGGT Chair, described the initiative as “the most significant regeneration programme undertaken by any district council in the country.”
“We are rebuilding our town—not with superficial upgrades, but with a comprehensive, once-in-a-generation transformation,” Cllr Swords continued.
“This is about more than bricks and mortar. It’s about restoring pride, attracting investment, creating jobs, and giving our residents and visitors a town centre they can truly enjoy.”
