PACEC Introduction and Aims 1 Introduction and Aims 1.1 The Background 1.1.1 In May 2004 Harlow Council, funded by ODPM, appointed PACEC and Halcrow to develop a Regeneration Strategy and Implementation Framework for Harlow. The context of the project was that Harlow had been identified by the Government as a potential growth area in the Sustainable Communities Plan. Related policy development included Regional Planning Guidance (RPG14) and the East of England Plan. The brief stated that the Harlow Strategy would clearly articulate Harlow’s regeneration needs and priorities for investment, and detail the extent to which these can be achieved through housing growth and other factors. The Framework will be set within the context of a vision for a regenerated Harlow and the role(s) it could play in the sub-region. 1.1.2 The Strategy will: a Build on and develop in practical ways the substantive work already undertaken in the region on alternative growth scenarios, infrastructure and development needs. b Articulate Harlow’s regeneration needs and priorities for investment, and detail the extent to which these can be achieved through housing growth and other factors. c Ascertain how future infrastructure investment opportunities can be realized to bring maximum benefit to the area and people of the town. d Develop a regeneration strategy and implementation framework to feed into the RPP process. 1.1.3 The Strategy will consider three alternative development related scenarios, and short, medium and long term infrastructure and investment needs. The project will involve four stages. An inception stage one which primarily focuses on the regeneration needs and issues and provides an evidence base. Stage two is concerned with the vision and role for Harlow, growth scenarios, and required investment needs. Stages three and four involve developing the draft and final strategy and the implementation framework. 1.1.4 The regeneration issues faced are complex and interrelated. The town’s economic performance is determined by economic and social factors and its facilities, physical infrastructure and environment. The analysis of needs seeks to get behind these factors and provide an evidence base on which to develop appropriate policies. 1.1.5 Stage One has involved, in summary, a review of existing studies, policy and other documents and stakeholder views on the regeneration needs and role of Harlow in the sub region. The consultations have involved Harlow Council staff, businesses, residents groups, local authorities and other local and regional agencies, the Harlow Area Working Party (HAWP), the Technical Steering Group, and members of the Harlow 2020 Local Strategic Partnership. The consultations sought to gather Harlow Regeneration Strategy Page 6 PACEC Introduction and Aims evidence and views on the issues faced and the future development options for Harlow. 1.1.6 A survey of a cross section of some two hundred and fifty firms in Harlow has also been carried out to assess their need and business constraints. 1.1.7 This report forms Stage One of the project. It assesses the economic performance of Harlow and its position in the region, the economic and social and physical regeneration needs and issues, and the strengths and weaknesses of Harlow. These are developed as key themes and topics in the report. The report provides an evidence base. It permits partners and stakeholders to develop an advocacy role to help articulate the needs of Harlow, and to advise on practical options and regeneration policies on the way forward for Harlow. It allows the regeneration issues to be defined and the regeneration strategy to be developed. 1.1.8 Environmental issues are considered in separate consultancy reports on master planning principles and sustainability criteria. 1.2 The Methodology 1.2.1 There were a number of integrated research tasks in Stage 1, comprising the following: ● Initial briefings. A series of briefings with Harlow Council staff to develop the issues which could be considered, the outputs which were practical within the project timescales, the overall methodology, establishing stakeholder contacts for interviews and discussions, identifying existing reports and those currently under way which would inform the research. At the briefing and subsequently, a work plan and a consultation programme were agreed. ● Desk research which has covered - A review of studies, which included the documents, referred to in the brief and supplied by Harlow Council. The desk study was structured to address the issues, i.e. the role of Harlow, its development, and the regeneration issues including housing employment, transport, amenities and facilities, the needs of residents and businesses to help improve economic prospects and which affect the quality of life. - The deployment of the PACEC Local Economic Performance System (LEPS) which provides in-depth data on the past performance and future trends in the local, regional and national economy and related social trends. The analysis covers base line data and statistics that may be used to measure and quantify socio economic conditions and chart both progress and change in Harlow District and the surrounding area. This provides a comparative analysis with Harlow benchmarked against other locations. A more detailed description of LEPS is provided in Appendix A. - An overview of policies and initiatives for economic development and regeneration. It will form a basis for identifying the gaps within and between existing initiatives/projects/programmes, which need to be considered in the regeneration strategy and implementation framework. Harlow Regeneration Strategy Page 7 PACEC Introduction and Aims ● Interviews with key stakeholders. A series of interviews with key stakeholders in the area and officers at Harlow Council. These focused on overall regeneration issues and needs and related to the key themes, current policies and projects and priorities for the future regeneration of Harlow. ● A survey of a cross section of two hundred and fifty Harlow firms contacted by telephone with a sample drawn from Harlow Council’s employer database. The survey sought to examine growth aspirations, future location, and businesses needs, such as premises and labour. It was designed to help shape policies to meet needs. 1.2.2 The outputs of the research focus on factual information rather than opinion or assertion. They form the basis for the work required in Stages 2, 3 and 4, the latter, including the strategy itself, and the implementation framework. The consultees are shown in Appendix B and the sources used for Stage 1 are set out in Appendix C. After the strategy is implemented a fresh evidence base will need in due course to be prepared in the form of a new document that takes into account both the latest trends and changing needs in Harlow. 1.3 The Structure of the Report 1.3.1 The following chapters then deal with key but interrelated regeneration themes. The economic factors cover the socio-economic trends, business development, specific business needs and employment sites and inward investment. The social factors deal with the labour market, community development and health issues facing residents. The main facilities and infrastructure issues are transport, housing, the town centre, retailing and local services. 1.3.2 The final chapter summarises the needs and issues from each chapter and points towards priority areas for policy intervention. 1.3.3 This report forms an evidence base for the regeneration strategy itself. It leads directly to the underlying issues set out therein. Harlow Regeneration Strategy Page 8 PACEC Strategic Policy Context 2 Strategic Policy Context 2.1 Introduction 2.1.1 Harlow and its surrounding area has been the subject of much planning analysis and review since Regional Planning Guidance for the South East (RPG9 – published 2001) identified the growth potential of the London-Stansted-Cambridge corridor, focused around the planned growth of Stansted Airport. This has included the preparation of RPG14 and work towards the subsequent approval of the final draft Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS) by the East of England Regional Assembly (EERA) in October 2004. 2.1.2 This review summarises the key planning and transport studies which have been undertaken, describes some of the wider sub-regional issues which provide the context for regeneration in Harlow, and identifies the local implications which must be addressed in considering master planning principles, sustainability criteria and broader development. 2.2 Principal studies, plans, and strategies London-Stansted-Cambridge Sub Regional Study (July 2002) 2.2.1 The first sub-regional study was undertaken to investigate the RPG9 requirement. The study identified the particular need of the Harlow area for regeneration, alongside its significant potential for further growth, to take advantage of its location in proximity to three growth points – London, Stansted and Cambridge. It identified four possible spatial scenarios, and three possible levels of growth. It indicated the potential for significant growth, but did not give conclusive guidance. London – South Midlands Multi Modal Study (LSMMMS, Feb 2003) 2.2.2 The LSMMMS identified the unique position of the area as a corridor for national and international traffic, as well as regional, sub regional and local movements. The main movement corridor is from SE to NW, and the impact of the M25 is clearly seen through increasing number of short trips on and off the orbital route. The study identified a capacity constraint at junction 7 on the M11. Sustainable Communities Plan (Feb 2003) 2.2.3 This Plan announced the Government’s policy for four Sustainable Community growth areas – of which the London-Stansted-Cambridge corridor is one. The Plan recognised the negative effects of high and rapidly rising house prices and their impact on the recruitment and retention of staff, particularly close to London and around Cambridge, but spreading deeper into the region. Harlow Regeneration Strategy Page e9 PACEC Strategic Policy Context 2.2.4 Harlow and Cambridge were identified as the main early delivery locations in the growth area.