Former Merck, Sharp & Dohme site earmarked for new housing

A MAJOR new housing development could soon be built on Harlow’s doorstep if plans to bulldoze the vacant Merck, Sharpe & Dohme research and development centre are approved next month.

The American pharmaceuticals giant has submitted an outline planning application to East Herts District Council seeking permission to transform its sprawling Terlings Park site in Gilston into a new residential estate. 

An artist's impression of the proposed Terlings Park development

The firm has been trying to sell off the site for business use ever since the research facility closed almost five years ago, but a lack of viable demand has now prompted the company to change tack.

If the application – which is likely to be considered by EHDC’s planning committee on June 22 - is approved, up to 280 homes could be built on the 29 acre Brownfield site, alongside new shops, a recreation area and community facilities.

New access roads could be added to the existing entrance on Eastwick Road, while new footpaths and cycleways linking the development with Harlow Town Station via Burnt Mill Lane to the south and Gilston village to the north are also detailed in the proposals.

The application even suggests part of the site could be opened up for use as public parkland, with green spaces and woodland featuring prominently in the plans.

Chris Morris, Executive Director of Facilities Management at MSD, told the Star: "The planning application makes a positive contribution to meeting local housing requirements while retaining as much of the existing high quality and mature landscaping as possible for the benefit of the local community.

"Proposals for the new development also include linking the existing community of Gilston with the proposed new community – this includes allowing potential pedestrian and cycle routes through the site to link the site and Gilston more effectively to the bottom of Burnt Mill Lane, which in turn leads to Harlow Town Station."

Harlow Council has been consulted by EHDC on the proposals, and a spokesman for the authority this week told the Star it had no objections to the plans.

"The council does not wish to raise any objections to the proposed development as it does not appear to prejudice potential options for the delivery of future growth in the Harlow area," he said.

The application has been welcomed by Harlow MP Rob Halfon, who told the Star the proposed new development could have "huge benefits" for Harlow.

"Although the site is not technically part of Harlow, it could well be in the near future following boundary changes, and in any case it’s so close to the town it can only help to boost Harlow’s economy," he said.

"The site’s been empty for some years now so I welcome the prospect of it providing some much-needed new homes in the local area."

He added: "I would much rather see vacant Brownfield sites like Terlings Park redeveloped than watch the town’s green spaces being built on."