Outlook Place, Watford

The homes are being developed on the site of Outlook Place in Watford, a former YMCA hostel built in 1967 and has received £1,076,000 of Housing Corporation funding. Once completed, the homes will be owned and managed by Circle's housing association partner, South Anglia Housing.

Circle is re-developing the former hostel into 9 four-bedroom houses for families on Watford Borough Council’s housing register, 16 one bedroom rented flats for supported housing and 12 flats to buy under the government’s NewBuild HomeBuy scheme. Circle is working with the award winning Pollard Thomas Edwards architects (PTEa) to deliver a flagship development of high quality affordable housing for Watford.

Just twenty minutes commute from London and situated on mature tree-lined streets in the west of central Watford, the new development will appeal to young first-time buyers looking to purchase a brand new home via the government’s NewBuild HomeBuy scheme as well as responding to the Borough’s need for large family sized homes.

The homes will be timber clad to blend in with the leafy surroundings and will be built using modern methods of construction based on lightweight steel frames. On completion, they will comply with Level 3 of the Code for Sustainable Homes through the use of high levels of insulation and water-saving technology, ensuring heating and water bills are affordable for residents.

Andrew Hull, assistant director of development for Circle, comments; “We are very excited to be delivering these 37 new homes in Watford and are extremely pleased with PTEa’s design, which is inspired by the surrounding nature of the site and will blend seamlessly with the existing environment and community.”

“Getting the redevelopment started is testament to strong partnership working with Watford Borough Council, Hertfordshire County Council and Circle’s supported housing team. We aim to continue working in partnership with the Council throughout the development, nomination and lettings stages to ensure the site assists fully in meeting the Borough’s affordable housing needs.”

Circle aims to complete Outlook Place by August 2009. The NewBuild HomeBuy units will be sold by Circle Living - Circle’s sales and marketing team. The social rented units will be managed by South Anglia Housing, one of Circle Anglia’s housing association partners.

Already under-occupied in January 2007, former residents were given 14 months notice that the property was going to be demolished. South Anglia Housing, which owns and manages the block, has supported all the residents at every step in finding alternative accommodation and all residents have now successfully moved into more suitable homes.

30/12/08 16:52