A total of 16 new council houses have been finished in Harlow available for families to rent at council rates.

The development at Bushey Croft includes 10 three-bedroom family homes and six two-bedroom family homes.

The homes will be advertised to families on the Harlow Housing Needs Register in the coming weeks.

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Deputy leader of the council, councillor Dan Swords, said: “Completing the Bushey Croft and The Hill developments is a small but significant step in our housebuilding programme and there are many more new council homes to come. 

“Our new programme announced in March will deliver the biggest council housebuilding programme for many years.

“Over the next two years we aim to be on site building 99 council homes for rent for Harlow families."

He added: “We are revolutionising the way the council plans and builds homes, so we can carry on building council homes for many years to come to tackle the Housing Needs register.

“These new homes will be built to the highest quality and will all be delivered with absolute value for money to the taxpayer.”

Due to funding secured by the council, the close is one of the greenest in the town, helping to support environment and local wildlife.

All homes have A-rated boilers and 400mm of loft insulation, meaning energy bills will be kept as low as possible.

Homes are fitted with swift boxes, bee bricks and there are hedgehog pathways included within the new estate.

New allotment plots have been created and fruit trees planted, and wildflower seeds planted to create a meadow. 

For electric vehicle owners and those looking to buy one in the future, there are eight electric vehicle charging points in the development.

And a further two electric vehicle charging points will be available in the communal parking area, which can be used by anyone living in nearby estates. 

In recognition of a Harlow key figure who served the community, the development will be known as John Dowdell Close. 

John Dowdell worked for Harlow Development Corporation, he later worked as Head of Legal Services for Harlow Council and was a member of the Harlow Playhouse Trust.