Working to improve Abbey View and Munden View

We are investing in our blocks and creating modern homes where residents have more control over their heating, and feel safer and warmer.

The programme includes significant upgrades to improve the energy efficiency of the buildings, and to make them fit for the future.

This page includes everything residents need to know about the ongoing works, including:

What works are taking place and how it will benefit residents
Understanding changes to your heating and hot water costs
How we are supporting residents
The closure of the bin chutes
Safety improvements
And much more!

Take a look at our November newsletter here

What works are taking place?

Our goal is to provide you with the best possible living environment and ensure your home is future-ready.

The new heating system and the improvement works

What works are being carried out?

Communal heating – we are replacing the existing communal heating system with a new system which will provide you with a reliable supply of heat and hot water all year round. You can find out all the details about this in a further FAQ. Our low-rise blocks, Coldharbour House, Foxtree House, Maple Court and Peartree Court, will also benefit from the new ground source heat pump.
A ‘Sunamp’ heat battery – this is an innovative, compact unit that will go in your home to store heat for your hot water. The Shoebox GSHP will be programmed to heat the Sunamp to meet your hot water requirements – it ensures very little heat is wasted, helping to keep your running costs down.
Internal & external wall insulation (IWI & EWI) – replacing the existing blue panelling with non-combustible EWI, helping to keep the building warm in the coldest months
Upgraded flat entrance doors, windows and ventilation
Roofing – as well as carrying out repairs to the roof, we will be adding insulation
Solar PV – solar panels will be fitted to generate electricity. This will provide power to communal areas – bringing down your service charge – and to help power the heat pump in your home, benefiting every resident equally and reducing the overall cost of heating and hot water.

Why are we moving to a new heating system?

The communal gas heating system which fuels your heating and hot water is being replaced by a mains electricity-powered Shoebox ground source heat pump (GSHP) system. The GSHPs extract heat energy from the ground and use it for heating and hot water, making them much more efficient than using electricity alone.

We are doing this because the old communal boiler system is entering the end stages of its lifecycle and would need to be replaced within a few years. In line with the government’s commitment to phasing out systems that use fossil fuels in favour of renewable energy, we decided to move away from gas and install a GSHP system.

How will the system work?

Kensa are currently drilling boreholes, which will allow the ground source heat pumps to extract heat from the ground. The energy from these boreholes will feed a small Kensa heat pump unit in your home which, alongside a Sunamp heat battery, will provide all of your heating and hot water, all year round. Each heat pump produces up to three times the energy it consumes to run, making it around 300% efficient and much more sustainable than traditional gas heating systems, which are around 90% efficient. You will be able to control your heating and you will only pay for what you use.

When the system is installed in your home, we will give you full guidance on how to control your heating and get the best out of the new heat pump.

Is the system suitable for the UK, where the ground temperature is lower?

Yes, ground source heat pumps are well-suited to the UK climate. While air temperatures can vary widely, the ground below the surface stays at a relatively stable temperature all year-round, making it an ideal and efficient source of heat - even during winter.

Will this system keep my home warm?

Yes, ground source heat pumps produce consistent and comfortable heating throughout the year.

Are ground source heat pumps noisy?

No, they are very quiet - much quieter than traditional gas boilers. You may have heard about noise concerns relating to air source heat pumps, which work differently.

Is the system safe?

Yes, ground source heat pump systems are considered to be much safer than traditional gas boiler systems, as they do not use flammable fuels or combustion. Using a non-flammable refrigerant, heat pumps avoid the risks and maintenance requirements of fossil fuel systems.

What is the process for the second phase of works?

We have applied to the Building Safety Regulator for Gateway 2, which is the design and planning stage for major improvement works. This means that we have asked permission to do further works to improve the energy efficiency of the whole building, including:

• new windows
• external and internal wall insulation
• roof upgrades
• improved ventilation systems
• fire safety enhancements

These upgrades are designed to improve the comfort, warmth, and safety of your home, reduce energy usage and meet future environmental standards.

When will the second phase begin?

At present, the Building Safety Regulator has a backlog of Gateway 2 submissions for high-rise residential projects, so applicants across the country are experiencing delays.

Because of this, we do not expect to hear back from the Building Safety Regulator until the new year. We will provide more information as soon as we can.

Other frequently asked questions

Car parking information

The temporary car park in the field adjacent to Abbey View and Munden View is now available for all residents to use.

The main car park is closed until further notice to allow Kensa to complete the final stage of drilling works for the ground source heat pumps.

The field, which is also being used temporarily as a site compound, is owned by Hertfordshire County Council. This arrangement is solely for the duration of the improvement works.

Once the project is complete, the field will be reinstated to its original condition

Do I have to pay for the works?

We are pleased to have secured government funding to help finance these works. This government funding has come from the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund as well as other funding schemes.

If you rent your home, there will be no additional cost to you. If you are a leaseholder, we will contact you to advise you of any costs in advance.

Will there be any disruption?

We appreciate that these works will cause some unavoidable disruption to residents, because of the scale of the work being carried out. However, we will do all we can to keep noise and disruption to a minimum.

We will be putting up acoustic barriers, a temporary sound-proofing material, around the site and on the scaffolding to alleviate noise disturbance.

All our contractors will be asked to park considerately – if you have any concerns, please contact us.

As there will be an increased amount of contractors working at the bottom of the buildings, please be mindful of leaving loose objects on the edge of your balcony.

How do I keep my family safe while the works are ongoing?

Building sites can be dangerous places for children and people who have not got the appropriate protective clothing and training. We make every effort to secure spaces and ensure that there are warnings in areas where children shouldn't play. Please make sure that you supervise children in your care when near the site.

Will residents be given updates on the works?

Throughout these works, we are keeping residents informed through text messages and emails. Please look out for these messages, as they include important updates on the project and how the works might affect you.

If you have not been receiving these updates, please contact us to make sure we have the correct details for you.

We have been sending residents of Abbey View and Munden View, and the low-rise blocks, newsletters with all the latest updates on the improvement works. You can see the latest newsletter at the top of this page.

To give residents a good understanding of how the new heating and ventilation systems will work in the high-rises, we are setting up demonstration systems in an empty apartment in Munden View.

Soon you will be able to visit the demonstration apartment to see exactly how the systems work and how they will look when we install them in your home. You will be able to book an appointment to visit the apartment, where a member of staff will be on hand to answer questions.

We will also be filming a walkthrough video of the show room for those unable to visit – we will let you know when this is available.

Please also keep an eye on this page - we will keep it updated with all the latest information throughout the programme of works.

Who should I contact if I have questions?

For queries about the ground source heat pump works, contact Rachel Rose, Resident Liaison Officer at Kensa, at rachel.rose@kensa.co.uk or 07930 109 951.

You can also contact your Housing Officer, Sinead Collins, at sinead.collins@wcht.org.uk with any general queries or concerns about your block.

Or you can contact Geoff Saunders, Sustainability Project Manager, at geoff.saunders@wcht.org.uk for any questions about the improvement works.

Understanding your heating and hot water costs

We want to be completely transparent with you about how your bills will change with these upgrades.

Before - how it works now:

After – what you will pay when you move to the new system:

You currently pay a flat charge for your heating and hot water from the communal gas system as part of your service charges.

It is important to understand that the actual cost of running this old communal gas system for every home is significantly higher than what residents collectively pay.

This means that, on average, a portion of each household’s heating and hot water cost has been subsidised by Watford Community Housing, so what you pay now does not reflect the full cost of the energy being used.

Once you have moved over to the new ground source heat pump-based system, you will pay for the electricity that you use for your heating and hot water. This puts you in control of what you use and how much you pay.

The heat pumps’ increased efficiency means that your home will require far less energy overall to stay warm compared to the old system.

However, we realise that electricity rates are generally higher than gas rates, and that how much energy you need will depend partly on the size and location of your home.

We are unable to give a full estimate of what your heating and hot water bills will be, as that will depend on how much you use. However, we are going to be working closely with each resident individually to understand and support you with this transition.

Some of the ways we will be providing support include:

An initial subsidy
One-to-one support and advice for every household
A one-off payment of £240 to any residents found to be in fuel poverty
Our Financial Inclusion team can offer help if you have money worries

There is more information on the support on offer in the most recent mailing.

What is the next stage of the works?

The communal gas heating system which fuels your heating and hot water is being replaced by a mains electricity-powered Shoebox ground source heat pump (GSHP) system. We are doing this because the old communal boiler system is entering the end stages of its lifecycle and would need to be replaced within a few years.

Our contractor, Kensa, will soon be ready to connect homes at Coldharbour House, Foxtree House, Maple Court and Peartree Court to the new ground source heat pump system. We expect this to happen in early 2026.

For residents of Abbey View and Munden View, the final phase of connecting your home to the new system will happen later in 2026 (subject to approval from the Building Safety Regulator), as part of the wider programme of works that includes upgrades to windows and insulation.

Low rises – Coldharbour House, Foxtree House, Maple Court and Peartree Court:

In the new year, Kensa will visit your home to install your new Shoebox heating unit. This is expected to take three days, as they carry out the following works:

1. Install Sunamp unit and fit the new heat pump

2. Electronically connect the system and make sure the heat pump is running and operating correctly

3. Complete boxing in hallway and rooms, installing a shelf above the heat pump and Sunamp, and any follow-up works that are needed

Kensa will give you a comprehensive guide on how the system works and how to get the best out of it when they visit, but in the meantime, the video below shows how the same Shoebox unit that you will receive works in a similar home.

High rises – Abbey View and Munden View:

The heating system for the low-rise blocks is being connected in the new year. The final phase of connecting your home to the new system will happen later, as part of the wider programme of works at Abbey View and Munden View that will include:

Internal & external wall insulation (IWI & EWI) – replacing the existing blue panelling with non-combustible EWI
Upgraded flat entrance doors, windows and ventilation
Repairing and insulating the roof
Solar PV

You will receive the same support mentioned above, just at a later date.

We will keep you fully up to date on when we expect these works to take place, but in the meantime, the video below shows how the Shoebox unit will work.

Closing the bin chutes at Abbey View and Munden View

Following the fire that occurred at Abbey View on 26 July 2025, we decided to close the bin chutes in both Abbey View and Munden View, to make your block as safe as possible.

We understand that going from the internal bin chutes to an external bin store is a significant change, but resident safety must always come first.

We have ordered the new permanent bin stores, which will be installed as soon as they have been manufactured.

In the meantime, please use the temporary bin stores that have been put in place in advance of the installation of the better, more long-term solution.

There will also be extra skips available over the festive period.

Why are we closing the bin chutes?

On 26 July 2025, a fire broke out in one of the bin chutes in Abbey View. An independent Fire Risk Assessment found that smoke and heat escaped through the chute doors, allowing smoke to spread into residential corridors. For your safety, the bin chutes are now closed.

Is this permanent?

Yes, the external bin stores will be a permanent solution.

We have ordered the new permanent bin stores, which will be installed as soon as they have been manufactured, but in the meantime, please use the temporary, metal bins provided.

How will I dispose of my rubbish?

You will be able to dispose of your rubbish in an external bin store – the locations for each block are shown on the right-hand side of this page.

What if I have mobility difficulties or can’t access the bins?

Please let your Housing Officer know if you need assistance with rubbish disposal so we can arrange additional support.

What is Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service’s role?

We are working closely with Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service, who are supportive of the closure. They are reviewing our plans and providing input to ensure resident safety is prioritised.

How does this affect the ‘stay-put’ strategy?

Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service have also recommended that the ‘stay-put’ strategy should remain in place. The Fire Risk Assessment confirmed that the fire doors and flat front doors performed correctly during the fire. However, closing the bin chutes reduces the risk of smoke spreading in corridors.

The location of the bin stores

Safety improvements

As part of our efforts to improve Abbey View and Munden View we have also installed numerous safety features to each tower block.

CCTV

Throughout February 2024, our contractor Focus Group installed 94 360-degree CCTV cameras on each floor of Abbey View and Munden View in order to make the blocks safer and more secure.

They are covering the bin chutes, the fire doors leading to the central lift corridor, the lifts, and the car park barriers. The footage will only be looked at when an incident has been reported, such as anti-social behaviour, fly-tipping, shopping trolley dumping, and to ensure proper use of the bin chutes. We will then work with Watford Borough Council to fine or prosecute the perpetrators who are fly-tipping, as per our Estates Services Policy.

Emergency lights

Emergency lighting is in place to ensure access ways are lit in the event of a loss of power in your building. The lights are tested monthly and are serviced annually.

Dry riser

A dry riser helps the fire service to get water up to your floor quickly in an emergency. Dry risers are checked and maintained every six months.

Sprinkler system

Your flat contains a sprinkler system which will be tested monthly. No access is needed for this test. It will also have an overall service annually. The system will activate in two stages. When a temperature of 57°C is detected the cover plate will remove itself and, if the temperature increases further to 65°C, the system will activate.

Secure information box

This is the red box stored on the ground floor of your building and contains information to assist Herts Fire and Rescue Service should they need to attend in an emergency.

Fire doors

Fire doors are in place at the entrance to your property and in communal areas throughout the building. Each door provides 30 minutes of protection against fire and smoke whilst closed. The doors have an automatic closer installed which should not be tampered with.

Compartmentation

Your building has been designed so that each flat is its own fire resistant 'compartment', which delays the spread of fire throughout the building. Compartmentation in communal areas is inspected annually.

Vents

Vents are located in the stairwell of each block and help to clear smoke in the event of an emergency.