New homes for the community in Watford
Watford Riverwell is bringing forward proposals for approximately 50 energy-efficient new homes at Avenues 3 in Watford, creating housing opportunities for local people across Hertfordshire.
View of gateway with specimen tree, signage welcoming to
Avenues 3 development and shared surface
Families across Watford are being squeezed by soaring housing costs while new homes continue falling behind demand. Evidence shows the borough now needs around 850 homes every year, yet recent delivery has failed to provide.
The pressure is growing fast. House prices in Watford are now more than 12 times average local earnings, compared with 7.7 times earnings nationally, while many households need incomes above £40,000 simply to rent privately. Affordable housing delivery also remains far below identified need across South West Hertfordshire.
For younger residents, renters and working families, staying local is becoming harder every year. Without new homes in places like Watford, more families will be forced to leave their community.
Showcase of landscape sketch views
Our Plans
Watford Riverwell is bringing forward proposals for approximately 50 new homes on land at Avenues 3, Thomas Sawyer Way, Watford. The site forms part of the wider Riverwell regeneration area and adjoins the existing Avenues development, creating a logical extension to the emerging neighbourhood. The land is previously developed and currently vacant, with existing green edges, a brook corridor and areas of planting helping create a softer transition into surrounding open spaces.
Access to the development would be taken from the existing Avenues neighbourhood and Shroddels Road. The site is within easy walking distance of Watford General Hospital, local shops, public spaces, pedestrian routes, Riverside Park and wider connections through the Watford Green Loop. The proposals would also improve links towards surrounding green spaces and support nearby local services.
Watford Borough Council identifies this part of the town as suitable for new housing growth through the adopted Local Plan and wider Riverwell regeneration programme. National planning policy also supports new homes in sustainable and well-connected urban locations like this.
The proposals are at an early stage. Watford Riverwell wants to involve residents from the outset, so your feedback is important.
What this means for Watford residents: The benefits
Homes for local people
Approximately 50 new family homes helping meet growing housing demand in Watford and South West Hertfordshire.
Re-generation of brownfield land
Bringing a vacant former industrial site back into productive use as part of the wider Riverwell regeneration area.
Support for local services infrastructure
Off street parking planned for each new home. Homes within walking distance of shops, healthcare, recreation and employment opportunities.
Green setting
New planting, landscaped spaces and improved connections to the brook corridor and Watford Green Loop.
Sustainable living
Energy-efficient homes informed by low-carbon “Zero Bills” design principles and sustainable drainage measures.
Biodiversity improvements
Opportunities to strengthen planting, green routes and habitats around the brook and disused railway corridor.
The site
The site sits within the wider Riverwell regeneration area near Thomas Sawyer Way and Cardiff Road. It is a previously developed brownfield parcel formerly linked to the historic power station and later used during construction works. Existing landscape features include a brook corridor, green edges and connections towards Riverside Park and the Watford Green Loop. The proposals would create a natural extension to the existing Avenues neighbourhood while improving pedestrian links and landscaped spaces.
Delivered by Watford Riverwell
Watford Riverwell is a transformational regeneration project creating a new destination for living, working and wellbeing in Watford. Focused on sustainability, community and long-term growth, it aims to deliver new homes, jobs and businesses while improving quality of life and creating an inclusive neighbourhood where existing and new communities can thrive together.
Further information
We’ve launched our consultation on our proposals for new homes in Watford. The consultation will run from XXX May – XXX June, following which we will review all feedback received before submitting a planning application. You can provide your feedback via the feedback form on this website.
Good Neighbour is a pre-application, early engagement service run by Shared Voice. It aims to inform immediate neighbours about development plans and gives them an easy way to feedback comments.
