HARLOW
– a sprawling new town with a mix of affordable housing for
first time buyers and larger family homes and Victorian cottages.
BACKGROUND
Harlow
is situated in the west of Essex. The new town, on the border with
Hertfordshire, occupies a large area of land on the south bank of the
Stort Valley. In contrast, Old Harlow is a village-size suburb
established in the medieval age. Most of its buildings are early
Victorian and residential, mostly protected by one of the
Conservation Areas in the district.
Since
its establishment to ease overcrowding in London after the Second
World War, Harlow New Town has undergone much expansion. One of its
main features remains the vast number of green spaces that separate
housing estates. More than 30 per cent of homes in the town are
social housing. Harlow is also an outer part of the London
commuter belt.
TRANSPORT
Harlow
has two railway stations; Harlow Town and Harlow Mill. Both of these
stations have trains to London Liverpool Street station and
Cambridge. There is a bus service to Epping tube station on the
London Underground Central Line.
Harlow
is reached from junction 7 of the M11, within a short distance of
Stansted Airport, the A120 and the M25 motorway. Running through the
town is the A414, from Hertford to Chelmsford and linking the town
with the A10 to the west.
AMENITIES
Local
areas of note are the Lee Valley Park, the Gibberd Garden and Henry
Moore Foundation. Harlow boasts more than 100 public sculptures on
show around the towns and its passion for the arts is strengthened
with Harlow Playhouse. This is home to two theatres and several
studios and bars. There is also no shortage of modern shopping areas
around the town. There are several hotels in Harlow, from popular
chains to independently run country houses.
Harlow
has six state secondary schools including Stewards Academy, Mark Hall
Academy, Burnt Mill Academy and the BMAT STEM Academy. Harlow College
provides sixth form education options.
Many estate agents and letting agents cover
Harlow and Old Harlow and surrounding villages and can be found in
Harlow town centre.
Harlow New Town
Harlow New Town comprises accommodation
that was built in the sixties and seventies, and the area has all the
amenities you could need from a town. A 2 bedroom flat in Dadswood,
close to the town centre, can be had for £1,000 per month;
while a 2 bedroom flat in Edinburgh House, a revamped Conran-design
residential block, is at £1,200.
Old Harlow
Old Harlow is popular for families who want
more attractive housing, often with large garden areas in a location
that has more of a historical, small-town feel. A large 4 bedroom
semi in Old Harlow can be rented for around £1,600 per month
and newer, 2 bedroom apartments here will be approximately £1,200
per month.
Matching Green
Matching Green is a quaint Essex village
less than 5 miles from Harlow with just the essential amenities such
as a pub, village green, and few local shops. There are very few
properties to rent in Matching Green, but, when available, a 3
bedroom cottage could cost around £1,500 per month.
