Harlow’s MP, Robert Halfon, rose in the House of Commons yesterday to call on the Government to invest yet more money towards the ambitious regeneration plans that he and Harlow’s Council are working to deliver.

He also reported on 8,000 new apprenticeships that have been created since 2010 in Harlow.

Mr Halfon said that “that the best example of levelling up is providing young people with the skills they need to climb the educational ladder of opportunity”.

He called on the Government to support the Council’s “£20 million bid from the Levelling Up Fund” which he said will “provide vital regeneration to Harlow to help our town to grow and develop”.

Harlow Council’s cabinet voted to approve a first draft of the plan, which provides a framework for building new transport, retail, leisure, hospitality and gardens in five key areas.

READ MORE:Masterplan divides town centre into separate hubs

The Minister, Kemi Badenoch MP strongly welcomed the thousands of apprenticeships that have been created, highlighting how these apprenticeships have allowed Harlow’s young people to secure high-quality jobs.

Ms Badenoch added that, whilst she was unable to comment on individual Levelling Up Fund bids, the Government are “determined to help Harlow transform local skills and infrastructure by capitalising on the new hospital, Science Park and the £23.7 million Town Deal”.

In response to the Minister’s commitment, Mr Halfon said: “I have worked hard every day in Parliament to secure more investment for our town. “Today, the Government has reaffirmed their commitment to building an even better Harlow.

“It is not just a commitment. The Conservative Government are investing hundreds of millions of pounds into transforming our town including: £81 million for junction 7a, over £20 million into Harlow College in recent years, a £23.7 million Town Deal for vital regeneration, hundreds of millions for our new hospital, tens of millions to build the new Science Park and Enterprise Zones creating thousands of new jobs.

“I will continue to work hard to build an even better Harlow and am working closely with the new Conservative Council to ensure that the regeneration of our town becomes a reality.