HARLOW: Campaign group vows to fight on

10:10am Thursday 1st May 2008

A HUGE swathe of land near Harlow which is earmarked for thousands of homes is being acquired by new owners in a joint venture which is looking to meet housing and employment needs over the next 25 years.

Land Securities and Places for People has announced the formation of a 50-50 joint venture which will acquire more than 2,400 acres of land the north of Harlow.

The majority of the land will be purchased from Ropemaker Properties for an undisclosed sum, and is subject to the site's inclusion in the final East of England Plan, which is expected to be released later this summer.

A statement issued on behalf of both companies said the joint venture plays to the strengths of both organisations, combining the large scale regeneration and development expertise of Land Securities with Places for People's experience in developing and managing residentially-led, mixed use, sustainable communities.

Mike Hussey, managing director London at Land Securities, said: "This opportunity stems from the strategic importance and the long-term prospects for London and the south east over the next 20 to 25 years. The joint venture allows us to work with Places for People, experts in the delivery and management of housing, to develop an important site recognised by Government as an area for potential population growth."

David Cowans, group chief executive at Places for People, said: "As one of the UK's largest housing, regeneration and property management groups, Places for People offers a complete range of housing tenures, along with social economic facilities such as schools, jobs and quality green space. "We look forward to combining our skills with Land Securities experience in large scale development to deliver sustainable communities in the area north of Harlow."

Later this year, following the publication of the final East of England Plan, the joint venture will seek to engage with the local community and other interested stakeholders enabling the scheme to respond effectively to meet the needs of the wider community and deliver a range of employment opportunities as well as helping to improve local infrastructure provision.

Nigel Clark, secretary of the Stop Harlow North group, said: "This changes nothing for our campaign. We have fought Ropemaker Properties Limited for 15 years and have now finally defeated them. They've withdrawn from the battle battered and scarred. They've offloaded a millstone round their necks. The endless rounds of proposals and studies must have been a significant drain on their resources over many years. Land Securities and Places for People may have bitten off more than they can chew."

He added: "We will be fighting every step of the way. We will continue to make our arguments against the unsustainable proposals for development north of Harlow; the lack of infrastructure (water, sewage, rail, roads, schools and hospitals) and lack of jobs."

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