Top store coming to town

DEBENHAMS is to move to Harlow as part of a £150m scheme to extend the Harvey Centre.

The department store, which will trade on two floors, forms part of a planned 23,225sq.m extension to the shopping centre which, if given planning consent, is due to open no later than spring 2006.

The centre will also be refurbished and reconfigured to provide new accommodation for high street retailers and include 27 new shops and an additional 546 car parking spaces.

Applicant Stannifer, the property and development group which owns the Harvey Centre, hopes the extension will dramatically improve shopping facilities in the town centre and add to the existing businesses already trading there.

Chief executive Ron Barrott said: "The arrival of a high quality full-range department store in central Harlow is long overdue and we believe the addition of Debenhams will prove an invaluable boost to the town's economy, attracting more shoppers from Harlow's extensive catchment area.

"We expect to significantly improve the fashion on offer in the centre and are already in discussion with a number of high street retailers interested in taking space in the new extension."

A Debenhams spokesman said: "We're excited at the prospect of bringing the Debenhams brand closer to a new group of shoppers who we believe we can provide with a first class offer.

"The location of our store within the Harvey Centre provides us with the best possible access to Harlow's growing catchment population."

Harlow Council is accepting comments on the plans until Friday, May 9. The application can be viewed at planning and building control services, 1 Adams House, The High, Harlow, from 9am to 5pm from Monday to Friday.

A final decision will be made by the council's planning committee.

14:26 Wednesday 23rd April 2003

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