The Joint Committee

Harlow & Gilston Garden Town’s Joint Committee provides unified leadership from the initiative’s five council partners and will deliver the ambitious spatial growth proposals that feature across each of their local plans.

The new governance model is setting a foundation and blueprint for future similar sized projects nationally and will maximise the opportunities that propel Harlow & Gilston into a go-to-destination for housing, education, employment, leisure and retail.

HGGT’s Joint Committee will not only deliver exciting regeneration for Harlow but leverage the investment that will benefit existing residents first, before supporting new residents as they come to join the Garden Town communities.

You can read the Inter-Authority Agreement for the HGGT Joint Committee by clicking here. 

Our Members

The Members are supported by the following senior officers:

PAULA HIRST

Director, Harlow & Gilston Garden Town

HELEN STANDEN

Interim Chief Executive, East Herts District Council

PETER ALSOP

Asst Director, Planning & Garden Town
Harlow District Council

COLIN HAIGH

Assistant Director Growth & Place, Hertfordshire County Council

JENNIFER GOULD

Chief Operating Officer,  Epping Forest District Council

JONATHAN SCHIFFERES

Head of Housing Growth and Garden Communities, Essex County Council

Next Committee Meeting

24 June 2026
5.30pm

Venue: Council Chamber in the Civic Centre, The Water Gardens, College Square, Harlow CM20 1WG

Contact: G Woodhall, Democratic Services EFDC. Tel: (01992) 564243

2026 Meeting Schedule

24 June 2026