NEW COMMUNITY CENTRE OPENS AT ATELIER AS PHASE 1 COMPLETES

Countryside, one of the UK’s leading home builders specialising in placemaking and regeneration, together with Home Group, a national provider of homes for sale and affordable rent, and Harlow Council, has recently finished building a state-of-the-art new community centre at Atelier, the redevelopment of Briars, Copshall Close and Aylets Field (BCA) estates in Essex, as well as completing the first phase of the development.

The multi-million-pound development, designed by Gardner Stewart Architects, is situated 2.5 miles south of Harlow town centre, providing a total of 346 new homes, of which 58% are affordable across three phases. Completion is expected in September 2020.

In addition to the new community centre, which provides local residents with opportunity for a wide range of learning, social and physical activities, the joint partnership is also delivering new green spaces, roads, parking, and improved cycle and pedestrian routes at Atelier.

Sales for Phase 2 launched last month with a brand-new collection of one, two, three and four-bedroom homes.

Robert Wilkinson, Managing Director for East London at Countryside Partnerships South, said: “Building on the success of welcoming the first new residents to their homes in autumn last year, it is extremely rewarding to have completed Phase 1 and launched Atelier’s new community centre.

“Located in the heart of the development, the centre is a fantastic space enabling the whole community to come together and for everyone to share. We are proud to be bringing more communal facilities and amenities to the area, nurturing stronger bonds and a sense of wellbeing amongst the community. Creating new places and opportunities for local residents is at the heart of all our projects and today highlights the importance of delivering modern, well-designed homes, as well as new facilities and outdoor spaces for all.”

Will Gardner, Director of Development, Home Group, said: “Houses alone do not make thriving communities, which is why place-making considers so much more than simply the buildings that people live in.

“To consider wider lifestyle factors, something that the community centre does brilliantly in terms of educational, social and physical opportunities, as well as accessible childcare opportunities through its nursery, will really help to bring Atelier to life.”

Councillor John Strachan, Harlow Council’s Portfolio Holder for Regeneration, said: “It is hugely exciting to have completed Phase 1 of Atelier and to mark the occasion with the launch of the new community centre that offers tremendous facilities. As well as providing much-needed affordable homes for local families, the project is also delivering new community facilities, providing the area with fantastic new spaces for the benefit of everyone.

“In the first phase, 33 brand new homes have been allocated to local people on Harlow’s Housing Needs Register. In phases 2 and 3 a further 133 homes will be allocated in the same way to local people in need of housing.”