Temporary bus station at Post Office Road Car Park, Post Office Road, Harlow
Summary of planning committee decision
Decided by Harlow Development Management Committee on 17 Jun 2026.
What was proposed
The application sought permission to continue using the car park as a temporary bus station for 12 more months, until 30 June 2027.
“The application is for a new temporary permission to use the Post Office Road Car Park as a bus station for a further 12 months until the 30 th June 2027.”
“Condition 1 (Time Limit 18 months) of permission HW/FUL/24/00283 reads:”
Officer report
The site and its surroundings
The site contains bus bays, shelters, cycle parking and access facilities, and is surrounded by commercial and residential uses.
“- eight bus bays – for seven buses and a National Express Coach - eight bays in a separate lay-by area where buses would park when not in service - nine bus shelters - a new pedestrian pathway to provide safe and convenient access to the bus bays, made of concrete slabs laid on top of the existing hard surfacing - 40 cycle parking spaces…”
“The surrounding area is a mix of commercial and residential uses, comprising a range of building styles and height. To the north-east is the Fourth Avenue/Vélizy Avenue roundabout, a key transport node.”
Officer report
Earlier permissions
Earlier permission allowed the car park to become a temporary bus station while the new transport hub was built, with related conditions later discharged.
“Application for approval of details reserved by condition 3 (Biodiversity Enhancement Layout) and condition 5 (External Lighting) of planning permission HW/FUL/24/00283 for alteration of the existing Post Office Road Car Park to form temporary bus station that will host 8 no. bus bays during the length of the construction of the 'Harlow Sustainable Transport Hub and Interchange' approved under planning reference HW/REM/23/00272.”
“Alteration of the existing Post Office Road Car Park to form temporary bus station that will host 8 no. bus bays during the length of the construction of the 'Harlow Sustainable Transport Hub and Interchange' approved under planning reference HW/REM/23/00272. Granted Planning Permission 26.09.2024”
Officer report
Why approval was advised
Officers considered the temporary loss of parking outweighed by wider transport and regeneration benefits, with no new physical changes proposed.
“While the continued use of the site as a temporary bus station would mean 139 car parking spaces would remain unavailable within the Town Centre, officers note that the Town Centre already benefits from extensive parking provision, including 700 spaces at The Harvey Centre, 930 spaces at Terminus Street and 1,200 spaces at the Water Gardens.”
“No new physical changes to the site are proposed.”
Officer report
Conditions proposed
The use would end by 30 June 2027, the site would be reinstated, and conditions would protect trees, biodiversity, lighting and cycle parking.
“Prior to 30 June 2027, the use hereby permitted shall have ceased and the site shall have been reinstated to its previous condition. REASON: To ensure reinstatement of the site to safeguard its long-term function as a landscaped town centre gateway.”
“The cycle parking facilities, as shown on the proposed site plan, drawing reference HARTI-MCB-POR-00-DR-A-0102-S2 REV P04, shall be retained until the use ceases operation. REASON: To ensure that appropriate cycle parking is provided on site as a sustainable transport option and to comply with policy IN3 of the Harlow Local Development Plan, December 2020.”
Officer report
The committee decision
Planning permission was granted subject to the conditions set out for the application.
“RESOLVED that planning permission be GRANTED subject to the conditions in the Officer’s report.”
Minutes
Sources
- Harlow Development Management Committee minutes, 17 June 2026
- Agenda and papers (council website)
Source: Plota analysis of Harlow's committee minutes and officer report. Quotations are the council's own words; headings and summaries are Plota's.
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See the API →At the meeting
- Council
- Harlow
- Date
- Wednesday 17 June 2026
- Recommendation
- Officers recommended approval
- Committee decided
- Approved
- Minutes
- The council's minutes
- Meeting
- Agenda and papers (council website)
- Application
- The application (council website)
- All decisions
- Harlow committee decisions →
This committee's year
24 decisions in the 12 months to this meeting, 1 against officer advice.
Source: Plota analysis of the committee's minutes.