Decision details

RESOLVED that:

A     Cabinet consider the Harlow and Gilston Garden Town Transport Strategy,

October 2021 (as set out in Appendix A to the report), together with the accompanying appendices including the high level programme (as set out in

Appendix B to the report), consultation report (as set out in Appendix C to the report) and equality impact assessment (as set out in Appendix D to the report).

B     Cabinet approves the Transport Strategy as a material consideration in the planning process for the preparation of masterplans, pre-application advice, assessing planning applications and any other development management purpose for all sites within the Garden Town area, including Harlow District in its entirety.

C     Cabinet delegate to the Director of Strategic Growth and Regeneration in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Strategic Growth and the Director of the Harlow and Gilston Garden Town to make any minor text or design amendments to the Transport Strategy prior to publication should there be necessity for clarification or changes proposed by the respective decision makers of East Herts, Harlow and Epping Forest Districts and Essex and Hertfordshire Counties in order to ensure a consistent document.

D     Cabinet endorses the future transport network plan (on pages 34-35 of the

Transport Strategy) in so far that it identifies, illustratively, the proposed

Sustainable Transport Corridors extending from the Town Centre to the north, east, south and west and confirm support in principle for the delivery of new infrastructure that supports safe and attractive travel by walking, cycling and public transport that will benefit existing neighbourhoods of Harlow and sustainably integrate any proposed new allocations with the town.

E     Cabinet acknowledge that the ambition, mode share objective and principles in the Transport Strategy should help shape existing and future work programmes of the Highway Authorities across the Garden Town, and can provide supporting justification for funding submissions and spending commitments in relation to transport. Content will also be relevant to development, regeneration and other initiatives undertaken by Harlow Council.

F     Although recognising that endorsing the Transport Strategy is not a legally binding act, Cabinet agrees that it will not introduce a congestion charging scheme for Harlow and will continue to work to improve residential parking amenity for existing Harlow residents.