Member of Parliament for Harlow and the villages, Robert Halfon, is celebrating the second year of Levelling Up in Harlow and across Essex. Working with Harlow Council and Essex County Council, Mr Halfon has pledged to build an even better Harlow, securing funding from the Government for projects to protect, upgrade and improve the town.
In 2022, Robert secured over £23 million to rebuild Harlow town centre, followed by a further £20 million in 2023 to redevelop College Square and build a new cultural quarter. Work has already started to deliver the Council’s Town Centre Masterplan, transforming Playhouse Square and College Square, delivering new live music and performance spaces, a contemporary bar and cafe to enhance the town’s nightlife, and new high quality housing, as well as upgrades to the Playhouse and a new gallery.
Thanks to £100,000 of investment from Essex County Council, Mr Halfon opened the new Electric Vehicle Training Centre at Harlow College last year. This new facility will offer 50 places for local people to train and upskill to meet the future skills needs of our cars and vans. 155 people have already completed level 2 and level 3 courses. A further £350,000 from Essex County Council has also supported community and mental health projects across Harlow, including Making it Mindful and Essex Outdoors.
Commenting, Mr Halfon said, “I work hard everyday for our town to ensure we secure all the funding that we need to build an even better Harlow. Over the last two years, I have secured over £40 million to transform our town centre. This multi-million pound investment shows the Government’s commitment to build an even better Harlow.
“Under this Conservative Government, Harlow has had investment like never before, truly worth hundreds of millions. We are regenerating our town for our residents, building an even better Harlow and making it a great place to live, work and grow up.”
Celebrating Levelling Up in Harlow, Council Leader Cllr Dan Swords said, “Working with Robert Halfon MP, we have secured huge investment from the Government to genuinely transform Harlow’s town centre. This is delivering on our promise to completely rebuild the town centre with our masterplan.
“Work has already started to truly transform our town centre into one that everyone in Harlow can be proud of and I would encourage all residents to see the plans - which have planning permission and contracts awarded - in the Harvey Centre.”
Deputy Leader of Essex County Council and Cabinet Member for Levelling Up, Cllr Louise McKinley, commented, “Since the launch of our Levelling Up Programme two years ago, 68,000 residents across Essex have benefited from the support and investment that we have provided. With free Holiday Activity and Food Camps during the school holidays, targeted literacy schemes and outreach work, a new library and much more, I’m proud to see the positive impact of Levelling Up and look forward to seeing the legacy these projects will create for our residents.”
