| Building brighter futures |
Everyone deserves to live in a comfortable home that is built to last. In 2024/25 we continued to build modern, efficient homes fit for the future and have taken on new homes to support the needs of the local community.
Welcoming new residents
Following on from the acquisition of 28 properties from West Herts Homes in February 2024, we completed a further stock transfer in 2024/25.
In September we took on 200 supported housing bedspaces from Hertfordshire County Council (HCC) after its contract with Peabody came to an end. These homes are spread out across Hertfordshire, covering Watford, Three Rivers, Dacorum, Hertsmere, St Albans and Welwyn Hatfield.
In October, North London-based Hendon Christian Housing Association (HCHA) transferred 140 properties to us. We are pleased to be seen as a trusted provider in the sector and to be expanding our portfolio of homes across Hertfordshire and North London, so that we can deliver good-quality services to more customers.
Our ongoing partnerships
To meet our goal of delivering more homes across our communities, we continued to bring together skills and resources by working with our local authority partners.
Following completion by Parrott Construction in January 2025, Hertsmere Developments Limited (HDL), the wholly-owned subsidiary of Hertsmere Borough Council, handed over the Eldon Avenue development to Hertsmere Living Limited (HLL) – our joint venture with Hertsmere Borough Council. The development, which was once two derelict garage blocks, is now 11 two-bedroom, high-quality affordable rent apartments.
We also completed our St Johns Church development in Radlett as part of our HLL joint venture. As well as three affordable rent and two shared ownership homes, the site includes contemporary nursery facilities.
In November 2024, we delivered 11 affordable three-bedroom flats in South Oxhey as part of our Three Rivers Homes joint venture.
To support the development of new, affordable homes that are built to last, we secured a £70m sustainability-linked revolving credit facility (RCF) from Barclays. As well as helping to fund new developments, this will help us to ensure that new homes meet high standards of energy efficiency.
Providing new homes across Hertfordshire
Jubilee Square, St Albans City and District Council’s £64 million regeneration project, completed in June 2024 and consists of a residential building with 93 homes – 33 for social rent and 60 for shared ownership – a large commercial space and a communal garden. The regeneration project transformed a run-down area into a vibrant, sustainable community.
To celebrate the opening and foster a sense of community, we hosted special events at Jubilee Square and Yeatman Court, which completed in 2023, for new residents and local people to come together and get to know each other.
In July we delivered nine affordable rent homes in Wood View, Dacorum, and we took over management of 10 homes in Ridgeview Lodge, London Colney, from St Albans City and District Council. The homes consist of a one-bedroom flat, seven two-bedroom flats, and two three-bedroom flats.
In October 2024 we completed our biggest development of the year, Sumac Gardens. It consists of 119 homes for affordable rent – 31 one-bedroom, 77 two-bedroom, 11 three-bedroom flats.
In December 2024 we completed Robin House and Drake House, as part of the Meriden regeneration project. Drake House has 11 two-bedroom flats for affordable rent, while Robin House offers 45 flexicare homes to support those with extra care needs and six independent living homes for residents over the age of 50. The development has a range of features, including:
- several wheelchair-friendly homes with wider doorways
- hoist-ready fittings
- mobility scooter charging and storage
- video intercoms for secure entry, carer contact, and chats with neighbours
- guest accommodation
- a communal lounge and garden for all residents to enjoy
Watford Riverwell – Watford Borough Council’s long-term regeneration project close to Watford General Hospital – achieved a significant milestone in February 2025. Construction reached its highest point, and a brick was laid at the top of Block 10, which consists of our 12 three-bedroom homes for social rent. The first homes were handed over in November 2024, with the final homes estimated to be handed over in October 2025.
In 2024/25 we built 310 new homes.
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209 homes were built for affordable rent 41 homes were built for social rent 60 homes built for shared ownership |
The Gateway Membership Team says... “Watford Community Housing built more homes than ever in 2024/25 but most importantly, they almost doubled the amount that were built for affordable rent and built more than double for social rent. This means more local families will have safe, warm and comfortable homes to call their own.” |