Harlow Place Partnership

Harlow is a pioneering town built to accommodate overcrowded Londoners, with sustainable neighbourhoods and extensive green and open spaces, including preserved old lanes, which have now turned into foot and cycle paths. Known for its firsts—the first pedestrian shopping precinct, residential tower block, and health and sports centres—Harlow's population is growing faster than anywhere else in the East of England. In the last three years, the council secured over £63 million in Government funding and hundreds of millions in private investment for town centre regeneration, including a new Arts and Cultural Quarter, Sustainable Transport Interchange, and public realm upgrades. With the largest budget ever of £244m in 2025/26, Harlow, designated as a Garden Town in 2017, is set to deliver 23,000 new homes and 20,000 new jobs, led by pioneering infrastructure such as the UK's first comprehensive Sustainable Transport Corridor network.

Harlow was chosen as a new Place Partner due to its high levels of deprivation and poor health. It’s the second most deprived district in Essex and there are particularly high levels of physical inactivity for children and young people, and high scores for health inequalities. With a current population of 93,000, Harlow has a lot of ambition, and this Place Partnership opportunity comes at a perfect time to add a physical activity dimension to the major growth, investment, and regeneration programmes that are planned.

The proportionate element of the Place Partnership work in Harlow will focus on areas of greatest need, particularly in increasing levels of physical activity and building the capacity of voluntary and community organisations in the most inactive and deprived areas. Harlow’s strong voluntary and community sector is led by Rainbow Services Harlow, and the presence of 36 locally trusted organisations identified by Active Essex, provide a strong foundation for expanding Place Partnerships and promoting community wellbeing through inclusive activities.

In addition, the health sector in Harlow is well aligned to the vision and outcomes for Place Partnerships. Overseen by the Hertfordshire and West Essex Integrated Care System (ICS), Integrated Care Board (ICB), Integrated Care Partnership (ICP) and West Essex Healthcare Partnership, their 5 year plan which includes 6 strategic priorities, each relate to achieving an active lifestyle. In addition, the Health Improvement Service has already established 10 community hubs to provide non-clinical support for health conditions, creating an exciting structure for the Place Partnership.

There is already a provision for physical activity in Harlow, however it is complex. Harlow Council operates parks and open spaces, while Harlow Leisurezone is run by the Harlow and District Sports Trust. The unique provision of sports and leisure facilities in Harlow offers an interesting angle on the national conversation about public leisure.

As part of the initial ‘development phase’, work has taken place involving local stakeholders to jointly shape a programme of activities to increase levels of physical activity, movement, and sport. This included two key stakeholder events, a leadership course, ABCD-E training delivered by the Active Essex Foundation, and the procurement of an independent body to consult with community leaders in Harlow.

It was decided that the budget allocated will be used for capacity; including the appointment of a Physical Activity Coordinator, leadership, networking, and evaluation and insight, and in addition, piloting test and learn projects. There are exciting opportunities for residents, community groups and stakeholders to engage with and a co-design process will continue to ensure that the voices of residents remain at the heart of Place Partnerships. Additionally, training opportunities are set to expand, equipping individuals with the skills to lead and inspire others in the pursuit of a healthier, more dynamic community.

In light of Harlow's Place-Based Expansion Development Award, individuals, clubs and groups who can help get residents in Harlow who experience inequalities to become more active, were encouraged to put forward their ideas for potential funding. This could be by starting up new activities or increasing the numbers attending existing activities, all with the aim of getting more people active.

Following the success of Essex Pedal Power in 5 other areas in Essex, the programme expanded into Harlow, providing eligible residents with a free bike. In partnership with a cohort of local partners such as Harlow and Gilston Garden Town (HGGT), Rainbow Services was chosen as the lead project deliverer to get the project up and running and will giveaway 121 adult bikes and 100 childrens bikes, enabling even more people to enjoy the many benefits that cycling can bring.

Essex Pedal Power Harlow has recently reached several key milestones that are advancing the project’s goals. In December 2024, the first giveaway took place whereby 12 bikes were given to Harlow residents, and a new partnership with MRCT will integrate Essex Pedal Power Harlow into MRCT’s upcoming community hub at the Harvey Centre, broadening both access and engagement. Support from local cycling clubs and bike shops has strengthened the initiative, providing resources and expertise for bike builds and deliveries, and with the referral process now open, Harlow partners are able to connect individuals with the Essex Pedal Power team. These steps are helping to create a more connected, community-driven project.

A variety of approved test and learn projects across the district, has ensured that there are inclusive and accessible opportunities available to key target audiences, as outlined in Sport England’s Place Partnerships project outcomes.

With a shared purpose of ‘providing inclusive opportunities that inspire and empower residents to thrive and live active healthy lives in safe, supportive environments’, the Place Partnership expansion opportunity in Harlow has excellent potential for success and long-term impact, despite the clear challenges of deprivation, health inequalities, and physical inactivity. A further Place Partnership application was submitted to Sport England in March 2025, and if successful, will provide further funding for Harlow until the end of March 2028.