Dozens of new homes unveiled in Parkside Watford scheme

The Parkside Watford scheme, built on the former Arriva bus depot site in St Albans Road, backs onto Garston Park and is a mix of 127 one, two and three-bed apartments.  

Forty-seven have now been made available – though 24 are already reserved – and they are being sold as ‘shared ownership’.

Housing association Thrive Homes said people can buy a share of the property with a “modest deposit and mortgage”, supplemented by rent on the remaining portion.

According to the Parkside Watford website, apartment values range from £307,500 to £524,000 – with a 30 per cent minimum share of £92,250 and £157,200 respectively.

Required deposits are as low as £4,600, a Thrive Homes spokesperson said.

The Parkside Watford layout. (Image: Thrive Homes)

It follows Watford Borough Council granting planning permission in September 2021 for five separate blocks, with the highest being five floors. The bus garage had been derelict since closing in 2018 having first opened in the 1950s.

Inside a Parkside Watford apartment. (Image: Thrive Homes)

Thrive Homes said: “Each home within Parkside Watford exudes contemporary elegance, featuring integrated kitchen appliances and ample outdoor space via balconies, terraces, and communal courtyards.

“With open-plan layouts, stylish fittings, and an emphasis on natural light, these apartments offer a harmonious blend of modern living and comfort.”

A video selling the scheme labels it “a vibrant new destination with everything on your doorstep”. Key attractions include communal gardens, vegetable patches, and local parks as part of a “gateway to sustainable living”.

There will be 87 parking spaces, a Communal Car Club, and 20 per cent of parking being electric vehicle charging points. Secure cycle storage will also be available.

Alix Green, Thrive Homes’ executive director of investment and growth, said: “I am immensely proud to introduce Parkside Watford – a testament to our unwavering commitment to affordable, sustainable and community-focused housing solutions.

“With its quality design, green spaces and emphasis on promoting healthy lifestyles, Parkside Watford embodies our vision of providing homes where people can thrive.”

Inside a Parkside Watford apartment. (Image: Thrive Homes)

Previous plans for 165 flats were rejected by Watford Borough Council, but the revised scheme was more warmly received and considered “more balanced” by councillors.

At the time, committee chairman Peter Jeffree said: “The developer took on board many of the committee’s comments on their previous application to achieve this, which is why this new scheme has now been approved.”