Harlow Walking and Cycling

Background

In May 2023, as part of its Safer, Greener, Healthier initiative, Essex County Council (ECC) announced it had secured more than £5 million of funding from the Government’s Active Travel Fund 4 (ATF4) for walking and cycling schemes in Basildon, Chelmsford, Colchester and Harlow. These include a series of Healthy School Streets, as well as various Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan schemes.

It is the aim of Essex County Council (ECC) to develop a network of walking and cycling links to support future growth in the area and give people alterative options to car use, particularly for short journeys.

To support these improvement works, we are using Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plans (LCWIPs), as set out in the Government’s Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy. These are long-term plans which look at cycling and walking improvements required in the local area, aiming to increase the number of trips made on foot or by cycle, reduce car usage and improve air quality.

Our ambition is to deliver new cycling and walking routes in the east/west of Harlow and the town centre where significant regeneration and future developments are planned.

Proposed schemes

LCWIP 4

A public consultation on our plans to improve three crossings along the First Avenue corridor in Harlow through our Harlow First Avenue Cycling and Walking Improvements scheme is now live. You have until Sunday 6 July 2025 to provide your feedback on the plans.

The crossings are the first phase of a new east to west walking and cycling route (LCWIP 4) and will provide safer and improved crossing points for people travelling along the First Avenue corridor, including pupils and families walking and cycling to and from local schools.

The initial proposed improvements are:

• A new raised table crossing at the Park Lane Junction with First Avenue Mandela Avenue
• A new toucan crossing on the northern arm of the Howard Way Roundabout near the junction with First Avenue
• A new parallel crossing over Momples Road at the junction with First Avenue

We would encourage you to provide your feedback on our plans by completing the online consultation survey. This can be found at the bottom of the project webpage.

Completed schemes

LCWIP 9

LCWIP 9 was the first of these ATF4 funded schemes to be completed in Harlow. It is an east-west walking and cycling corridor improvement scheme which runs from the industrial park in the Pinnacles to the Town Centre, connecting with other active travel facilities in the town for onward journeys to amenities such as the Harlow town railway station.

Identified as needing significant upgrades along the route, the £2million scheme started in May 2024 and was completed in October/November 2024 ahead of programme and under budget. This scheme has seen the route fully resurfaced, new streetlighting installed, new wayfinding signs, vegetation clearance along the full route new markings, and drainage improved. A new tabletop crossing, and parallel crossing have also been installed at both the west and eastern ends of Hodings road respectively.

Connecting to the new Sustainable Transport Corridor, currently under construction along Velizy Avenue, the route will, in the future connect with other walking and cycling improvements as well as the planned Harlow East to West Sustainable Transport Corridor in Harlow as part of the groundbreaking Harlow to Gilston Garden town.

Welcoming completion of the scheme, Councillor Tom Cunningham, Cabinet Member for Highways Infrastructure, and Sustainable Transport at Essex County Council said:

“Across our towns and cities, we are working to identify and improve key walking and cycling routes, providing safer, greener, healthier travel options for our communities.  This particular route is very well used, and I am delighted that that we have been able to complete this scheme on schedule and provide a much-improved facility for local people.”