Strawberry Star Homes has launched an exciting new residential-led, mixed-use development in Harlow, a key Essex regeneration hotspot. Harlow Quarter is set to transform Harlow town centre with planning permission for 523 new apartments, set amongst beautifully landscaped public spaces and a retail avenue. Currently available is phase 1 of the scheme which will comprise of 163 new apartments. The development is estimated to be fully complete in 2022.

Located a short walk from Harlow Town Station, London Liverpool Street is only 30 minutes by train, and Stansted Airport only 17 minutes, whilst Central London is within 45 minutes via London Underground connections at Tottenham Hale.

The development is surrounded by the shops and restaurants of the Harvey Shopping centre and is only a 15-minute walk from Harlow Town Park. Set over 160 acres, this beautiful green space features gardens, meadows, an outdoor gym, a pets’ corner, paddling pool and café.

Harlow Quarter offers buyers the convenience of town centre life, with new homes at accessible price points. Studio, one- and two-bedroom apartments are currently available, with studio apartments starting at £199,000. On offer will be a concierge service, two large residents’ roof gardens with dedicated play areas and seating, as well as private balconies on selected units. Apartments will feature full-height windows to maximise natural light and a range of fully integrated appliances for comfortable modern living.

Harlow, famously designed as a 1940s New Town by Sir Fredrick Gibberd, hopes to look dramatically different over the next five years. The council has submitted a bid for a slice of the £1bn High Street Fund project launched by the government, and there’s a significant chance it will be approved. A vibrant and attractive new heart to Harlow town is set to spur on wider regeneration in the area and boost house prices. 

Located within the UK’s innovation corridor between London, Stanstead and Cambridge, Harlow is an economically significant business and technological growth region. The building of the new £250 million Harlow Science Park for over 25 businesses, combined with the opening of Public Health England’s £400 million national science hub, hopes to see Harlow become a major contributor to global scientific research and invention. The Harlow Enterprise Zone’s employment drive and associated population growth will propel demand for quality housing. At 22% the rate of population growth in Harlow is, in fact, faster than that of the whole of Essex (20%) and England (17%)

Consequently, strong capital growth is predicted in Harlow, with house prices set to rise by 20% by 2023. As an attractive investment for buy-to-let investors and owner-occupiers alike, anticipated rental yields at Harlow Quarter are up to 5%.

The commuter hotspot is an affordable alternative for those priced out of London. Harlow has a cheaper average house price compared to neighbouring Epping Forrest and Broxbourne, which are within 3 miles and on the same travel journey to London. In fact, over 44% of those who moved to Harlow in 2017 were Londoners.

Chairman of Strawberry Star, Santhosh Gowda explains: “The Harlow site is an important investment for Strawberry Star as it is the next step to realising our vision of delivering volume housing, especially for first-time buyers.”

The site is a key part of Strawberry’s long-term strategy to deliver 4,000 new homes by 2025.

Gowda continues: “Massive regeneration in Harlow is driving local demand for quality housing. We intend to provide homes at prices that are achievable to homebuyers who have been priced out of the capital.”

The Harlow site is Strawberry Star’s second mixed-use development in the London commuter belt. Work on their first scheme, LU2ON, started in May 2019, the Luton development will create 877 new homes, a hotel, restaurants and shops, all geared towards the needs of busy young professionals thanks to its 23-minute train journey to central London.

Both Strawberry Star sites in Luton and Harlow have been targeted because of their growth potential and fast journey times for commuters. Luton has been cited as one of the UK’s best bets for boosting economic prosperity post-Brexit, having received a £1.5billion regeneration programme including a new £225million ‘Direct Air to Rail Transit’ (Luton DART), a £64.6m Luton Bypass, and a 70-acre commercial area, New Century Park.

Gowda adds, “It is well documented that shorter travel times into central London facilitate higher potential for future house price growth. I believe major infrastructure improvements could be key to unlocking value on these sites, with many exciting town improvements in the pipeline.”

For more information on Harlow Quarter, please contact Strawberry Star Homes on 0127 989 9060 or visit www.strawberrystar.co.uk/hq. 

A public launch event will take place at the Harlow Quarter Marketing Suite, Unit 7, East Gate, CM20 1HP, on Saturday 29th February and Sunday 1st March, from 10am to 4pm. To register your interest, please email: hq@strawberrystar.com.