There is a notable new addition to Watford's skyline - a crane that will play a pivotal role in the construction of Watford's tallest ever building.
In recent days, some residents - particularly in North Watford - will no doubt have spotted the machinery as they look up at the sky.
Situated on the site of the former Range store in St Albans Road, it is a sign of progress being made on Watford's biggest redevelopment scheme to date.
Named The Eight Gardens, it will include 1,214 homes, built in 11 blocks including towers of 28, 24, and 22 storeys.
Berkeley Homes' plans, which have been referred to by locals as 'Mini-Manhattan', were approved by Watford Borough Council in 2019 despite more than 160 objections including concerns about the size of the buildings and how the scheme will impact on neighbourhoods.
Since that permission was secured, The Range has relocated to Watford Arches Retail Park and the large store near Watford Junction train station has been demolished.
Two cranes have recently been erected on-site including a blue one which acts as a stark reminder for just how tall some of these buildings will be.
Some of the towers, such as the one rising 28 floors, will be visible across parts of Watford as well as nearby places such as Bushey.
The 28 one will eclipse the current 24 storey tower in Ascot Road, on the other side of Watford, that is nearly finished.
Alongside homes, The Eight Gardens is also set to deliver a primary school and nursery although no detailed plans have yet come forward.
The development will not include any new GP surgery or secondary school but as part of the conditions attached to the planning permission, Berkeley Homes is to make a financial contribution of around £1 million to GP and secondary school provision in the area.
A little over 200 parking spaces were proposed in the plans while the number of affordable homes being built is 107 – representing 8.8 per cent of the total number of homes and well below the council's policy of 35 per cent.
The scheme is set to take several years to complete. During the planning process, Berkeley Homes said it would create more than 1,500 jobs during construction phase and give a £25.85m boost to the local economy in the first year of being completed.
The scheme forms part of the Watford Junction regeneration masterplan - a council-backed scheme which aims to deliver nearly 3,000 new homes, retail space, a gym, and two primary schools, as well as improvements to the station.
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