Development update – delivering affordable homes through partnership working

We believe that everyone should have access to a home they can afford, which is why we are committed to delivering high-quality homes across a range of tenures. 

Working in partnership with Watford Borough Council, we are currently developing homes at a number of sites in the Watford area, to give more people in the local area the chance to live comfortably and affordably. Recently, Elected Mayor Peter Taylor and our Chief Executive Tina Barnard dropped in to two of our key development projects in the Holywell area. 

The tour began at Croxley View, where we are building 86 new homes through Hart Homes, our joint venture with Watford Borough Council. Four of these homes will be provided for social rent – the lowest rent level available – with a further 15 offered for affordable rent, at around 80% of the cost of renting on the private market. The scheme will also deliver four homes for shared ownership, giving people the chance to get onto the property ladder, whilst a further 63 will be sold on the open market.

Bugler, our building contractor for the project, is making excellent progress on the development, which is set to be completed by autumn 2022 – delivering efficient, futureproofed homes that the residents can be proud of.

Tina, the Elected Mayor and other representatives also paid a visit to Chesham Way, where contractor Jarvis is developing six homes as part of the Watford Social Rent Programme, jointly funded by Watford Community Housing and Watford Borough Council. 

The project at Chesham Way will deliver a mixture of one- and two-bedroom flats. These bright, airy properties are part of our wider programme of homes for social rent, which will deliver 56 homes across eight different sites in the town, ensuring that new homes are made available at the most affordable rent level.

Five of these sites are due for completion by December 2021, with a further three coming in 2022. The first of these sites to become available will be at Waterman’s Close, which is due on the horizon shortly, in August 2021 no less! 

Speaking from the site at Chesham Way South, Tina said: “It’s absolutely wonderful to see the incredible progress that Bugler and Jarvis have made on these sites, where we’re delivering much-needed homes across a range of tenures. These will give people valuable opportunities to have a high-quality, modern home they love. 

“We know we can deliver more by working closely with key partners such as Watford Borough Council and these developments show what can be achieved through these partnerships.”

Elected Mayor of Watford Peter Taylor added: “By working in partnership, the council and Watford Community Housing are delivering modern and affordable homes for local families in our town. We’re enabling people to have decent homes of their own and creating strong communities, which is so important.”