Part of my work as an MP involves meeting with constituents to discuss issues which arise in the town. I started a series of regular coffee mornings six years ago focusing on specific issues. My last series of coffee mornings focused on immigration and migration. This weekend saw my first coffee morning on the regional plans for growth in Harlow and surrounding areas.

From my advice surgery, my postbag and my experience on the doorstep and meeting constituents, the biggest challenge we have to face is how we provide the housing that so many local people need and how, alongside that, we regenerate Harlow to make it a better town with a greater quality of life for residents in the future.

I make no apology for saying that more housing is necessary – I’ve always made that clear – you only have to come to my monthly advice surgeries to see the problems – there are over 6,000 people on Harlow Council’s housing waiting list. Ten years ago, nine in ten first time buyers could afford a home without support from their parents or relatives.  Today, nearly half rely on that support. 

But whilst acknowledging the need for more housing I’ve always made clear that any new housing must be in the right places, must be of the right type to meet local needs, and must be supported by essential community infrastructure. That’s what’s needed if it’s to be sustainable.

The publication of the East of England Plan in May this year specified that Harlow and surrounding areas will see growth of up to 16,000 new homes until 2021, and the Plan made provision for better transport links to support this growth.

In addition to this, I am also pleased to see progress on transport improvements in the town. It was announced this week that Harlow was one of 36 successful bids to go forward to the final round of the Government’s Community Infrastructure Fund, funding which could see reduced congestion on Southern Way. The bid proposes to extend the dual carriageway from M11 junction 7 to the A414/A1169 Southern Way roundabout which will greatly reduce congestion at peak times and will support the Pinnacles as a major employment site.

I am pleased to be working with all political leaders across Harlow on this issue, Leader of Harlow Council Cllr Andrew Johnson, Liberal Democrat group leader Cllr Chris Millington and Labour group leader Cllr Mark Wilkinson, to get the best deal for our town. We are putting aside our political differences to get the best deal out of growth for Harlow.