A £6 million investment will help Harlow emerge from the “most challenging time in its history”, a councillor has said.

As part of the government’s “Getting Building Fund” a £6m cash injection will fund four projects and create up to 1,600 jobs.

Cllr Andrew Johnson, leader of Harlow Conservatives, said: “Our town is facing the most challenging time in its history and we must do everything possible to kickstart our local economy and create local jobs. This major investment will go a long way to doing just that and I want to thank our MP and the government for their work to deliver it.

“Harlow has the potential to drive economic recovery in the East of England and this funding will help to cement that. Yet again, this Conservative government is investing in our town and delivering on our priorities.”

Harlow College will benefit from a £1.5m remodelling of its ageing buildings to support new qualifications in construction, digital, education and childcare, and health and science, creating an estimated 1,050 jobs.

Harlow's town centre library will be redeveloped for £977k to create a modern learning hub, creating 39 new jobs and safeguarding 50 current jobs, as well as creating 33 new homes.

The rest of the funding will go towards a £3.56m scheme to create 490 new jobs and at the Harlow Science Park, with the development of five manufacturing and industrial units as well as new office spaces.

Robert Halfon MP for Harlow said: "We are lucky to have such an incredible college in our town and this money will go a long way to help them. The town library has long needed a redevelopment and we are delivering it. The new funding for the Science Park coupled with the new hospital and move of Public Health England will make Harlow the health-science capital of the UK.

"So as we emerge from this crisis we can be optimistic that with our new hospital, the £600m move of Public Health England, the new Junction 7a, the regeneration of our town centre, the levelling up of our whole community and now this major investment from the Government, we will be stronger and better than ever before. More resilient, more innovative, more economically dynamic, but also more generous and more caring.”

Epping Forest Guardian:

For more breaking news, local headlines and features, ‘like’ our Facebook page.

We also have a Twitter account: @EppingFGuardian

Follow us to keep up-to-date with news in Epping Forest.