One of Watford’s largest regeneration projects has made “remarkable” progress despite facing a number of issues and setbacks.

The £450million Riverwell scheme near Watford General Hospital and Vicarage Road stadium is seeing land transformed into a variety of different uses.

Once complete, there will be around 1,000 homes, a hotel, primary school, and two industrial sites. The planned rebuild of Watford General is also linked and a new 1,450-space multi-storey car park for the hospital that has already opened.

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Watford Observer: The multi-storey car park at Watford General Hospital. Image: West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS TrustThe multi-storey car park at Watford General Hospital. Image: West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust (Image: West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust)

In early October, senior councillors at Watford Borough Council, which is working in partnership with construction property group Kier, were given a project update.

Cabinet member Mark Watkin said Riverwell will be a “wonderful new community” and praised the project's progress – but recognised challenges such as rising construction costs, hospital redevelopment delays, scrapping of the Met Line extension, and supply issues.

Some residents have moved into new properties such as the 95-home Woodlands scheme while the 253-home Mayfield retirement village is nearing completion.

 

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Bellway’s 408-home Waterside scheme is close to finishing, which includes 118 affordable flats.

Watford Observer: A CGI of the Waterside scheme. Image: Bellway A CGI of the Waterside scheme. Image: Bellway (Image: Bellway)

Work has begun on the Avenues development – land formerly used as allotments – for 142 houses and 50 flats, along with a community centre. Watford Community Housing will be responsible for managing 62 affordable homes.

Phase 1, which is for 85 of the 192 total properties, has been delayed but is expected to be completed in early 2023.

Watford Observer: A CGI of The Avenues, under construction by Jarvis. Image: Kier PropertyA CGI of The Avenues, under construction by Jarvis. Image: Kier Property (Image: Kier Property)

More than 200 homes are planned by the end of 2026 for land known as the Island site while around 330 could be built on a Central site, which includes the current hospital.

Plans for a primary school are being led by Hertfordshire County Council, while a 121-bed hotel is forecast to be ready by 2028.

Industrial zone South, which is known as Trade City, has been in operation since 2017 and this is set to be joined by Industrial zone North. An occupier for the latter has been selected and a planning application for a turnkey development is imminent.

Watford Observer: Trade City at Watford Riverwell. Image: Kier PropertyTrade City at Watford Riverwell. Image: Kier Property (Image: Kier Property)

Land is also being kept free for any potential Met Line Extension alternative while improvements are ongoing at the nearby River Colne.

Councillors were also told the council was “well on its way” to meeting its financial goals associated with the project.

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