Plans for a new arts and cultural quarter in Harlow town centre, designed by McBains, achieved unanimous planning approval last week (April 10, 2024), with council officers describing the application as "exemplary" and praising its "high-quality" design.
The scheme will deliver a new live performance venue, flexible commercial and community floorspace, 47 new affordable apartments, and extensive public realm improvements.
A new, two-storey dedicated ‘Arts’ building will provide flexible performance and creative arts studio facilities, providing spaces for rehearsal, dance and teaching hire and classes; a music school with rehearsal and recording facilities; and a new café, changing rooms and booking office.
A part-five, part-six storey mixed-use building will deliver affordable one- and two-bedroom apartments, together with ground floor commercial space, with flexible rooms for hire, providing a new home for the Gibberd Gallery.
Externally, the proposal will deliver extensive public realm improvements, including a new public square and pocket park, landscaping and improvements to the Haydens Road underpass.
Set to be delivered using £19.6m of investment secured in 2023 via the Government’s Levelling Up Fund, the scheme is intrinsically linked to Harlow’s ambitious town centre regeneration programme and the Harlow Town Centre Masterplan Framework and will provide a new, welcoming western gateway into Harlow Town Centre.
Matt Baldwin, Project Director at McBains, commented: “We’re delighted that our designs for a new art and cultural quarter in Harlow have been given the green light. The scheme is set to greatly enhance the area and improve its vibrancy and visitor experience”.
McBains is providing architecture, civil and structural engineering, mechanical and electrical engineering, project management, cost management, sustainability advice, CDM and principle designer services to Harlow District Council in relation to the scheme.
