This month’s blog comes from Sammie Steele, Managing Director of Placemaking and Regeneration at Places for People, who is overseeing the Gilston Park Estate development.
I joined Places for People because I am passionate about creating new, vibrant places for people to live, work and enjoy. I believe in genuine placemaking and putting people at the centre of new developments, and am working with my team to create a sustainable and innovative new neighbourhood at the Gilston Park Estate, as part of the wider Harlow & Gilston Garden Town.
Places for People is responsible for masterplanning the Gilston Park Estate development, which means that even if some of the land is sold to other developers, we will have overall control and perform the role of long-term custodian for the lifetime of the project. This will allow us to make sure that different developers share the same vision and values, and that we come together to create a fantastic new neighbourhood which fits into the surrounding area and which we can all be proud of.
Places for People is one of very few developers that works across all housing markets and tenures with the objective of offering a home for everyone. Importantly, the business is not for dividend (which means it has no shareholders) and all profits are invested back into our business and our places.
One of the (many) reasons I am so excited about this development in particular is that it presents a great opportunity to invest in the economy of Harlow, Gilston and the surrounding community for years to come.
When the development moves forward to the build phase, we will create construction jobs throughout the programme, offering apprenticeships, developing skills and providing life-long learning opportunities for local people through our Construction Skills Centre.
Our vision for the Estate includes continuing to support Harlow’s economic regeneration by contributing to the Enterprise Zone’s growth. The development is expected to bring an estimated 13,000 working age people into the area through the new homes, giving a substantial boost to the local economy. On-site employment space will increase opportunities for new and existing local businesses and give residents the chance to work just a short walk, cycle or bus ride away from home.
My team and I are very much looking forward to working with you as we bring the Gilston Park Estate to life with new homes and a new community which brings opportunities and infrastructure to the wider area.
For more information, please visit the Gilston Park Estate website or contact our Community Liaison Team by emailing: community@gilstonparkestate.com.