Watford Riverwell JV, the £500m landmark regeneration partnership between Watford Borough Council and Kier Property has achieved planning approval for the next phase of its transformational regeneration of the area; a 131-bedroom major hotel, new substantial public realm and complementary retail space in the heart of the scheme.
Approved on 1 April, (following successful public consultation) the JV will deliver this carefully-crafted new public realm for the local community, hospital workers and visitors.
The hotel and public realm will complement earlier phases, which have already delivered significant levels of improvement, including the new 1.5km Thomas Sawyer Way, a 1,455 space multi storey car park, plus 567 new homes of which 255 are senior living and a further 73 are affordable, a Trade City commercial development, as well as an 80,000 sq ft Safestore storage facility currently being built.
"Securing planning permission for the hotel and public realm in the heart of our scheme is another important step forward in the evolution of Watford Riverwell. This phase will provide high-quality public amenity for residents, visitors and the wider community, supporting local economic growth while enhancing the area’s appeal."
Leigh Thomas, Group managing director at Kier Property
"The new public realm and hotel is a fantastic opportunity to bring even more life and energy to the area, supporting the hospital and creating new employment, new spaces for people to meet, relax and enjoy. This is an important part of our long-term vision to make Watford an even better place to live and work."
Ben Martin, Director of Regeneration and Growth at Watford Borough Council
The Watford Riverwell JV partnership continues to deliver high-quality, sustainable developments that meet the needs of the town today while creating a strong foundation for the future and these proposals are a key milestone in the continued revitalisation and regeneration of the area.
For more information on the Watford Riverwell regeneration project, please visit www.watfordriverwell.com