Clarendon Road demolition makes way for a 25 storey apartment tower

This week, senior councillors agreed to an emergency action plan which aims to increase future housing supply after pressure to build more, due to only achieving 48 per cent of its target for 2017 to 2020.

Demolition of existing premises to make way for office space, gym and cafés have been arranged on the lower levels with 154 modern residential apartments above.

The Clarendon

With a breathtaking sky garden, The Clarendon is a 25-storey development of 168 exquisite private residences comprising a variety of studio, one and two bed apartments and a selection of penthouses each boasting high-specification interiors. Twelve penthouses to offer unrivaled views towards the British countryside and the city of London.

Watford mayor Peter Taylor said: “Most residents will be astonished to learn that the government believes we should have built twice as many properties in the last few years.

“They are forcing us to produce this action plan to punish us for not meeting their housing target for Watford. A few years ago the government tripled their target for the town but the space we have is very limited.”

“I will continue to fight the unrealistic and unfair housing target the government has set for Watford.”

The council report says “Through this evidence gathering it was found that some of the largest barriers to housing delivery are matters that the Council has little or no control over, such as the lack of sites available, site constraints, changing market conditions and high existing land values. One of the main issues identified is the high number of extant planning permissions in the borough and the slow rate of their implementation. A proportion of these permissions are expiring in the next financial year which may be due to viability, supply chain and economic issues including uncertainty around the Covid-19 pandemic.

The following are the actions that have been identified in the Housing Delivery Test
Action Plan (Appendix A):
• Ensure planning applications and permissions continue to be determined in a
timely manner and maintain a high standard of performance from
Development Management. During this 3 year testing period, between 85%
and 100% applications were approved on time.
• Proceed with adoption and further promotion of the new Local Plan.
Currently the local plan is in its examination period with hearing dates in
early 2022 and adoption expected in summer 2022.
• Continue to work to complete housing projects across the borough
• Work with developers to create the conditions to enable them to build out
allocated sites
• Create frameworks and masterplans to promote areas of development
• Maintain an up to date Infrastructure Delivery Plan
• Maintain and update the Brownfield Land Register
• Work with developers and Homes England to secure delivery of affordable
homes through policy requirements and grant applications.
• Be supportive and proactive about build to rent schemes
• Increase use of council land for housing delivery