A housing association has revealed aspirations to build 90 new homes on a Watford estate.

Watford Community Housing Trust bosses told residents of the Meriden Estate they are considering building a new block of flats to accommodate 50 new homes.

It also emerged they are looking into developing a further 40 new homes in different sites across the estate.

Euan Barr, head of business at WCHT, said the trust is aiming to put in a planning application for the regeneration in the new year.

But residents of the north Watford estate have voiced concerns against the creation of more flats.
Stephen Moss said he got the impression the plans were relatively firmed up.

He said: "It feels as if they are going ahead with this development regardless of what residents want or our opinions.

"It’s not a case of if, but when this thing is built."

Mr Moss was one of 19 residents to attend a meeting held by the trust to further explain their plans for the estates regeneration.

There, concerns about current properties being overlooked, problems with parking and nearby schools already at capacity and therefore not being able to accommodate new children moving into the estate were raised.

Details of the proposals have come to light just as Watford Borough Council granted planning permission for a development on the Boundary Way estate.

Three Rivers District Council is yet to decide on the application to extend the Garston estate by 56 homes.

The trust confirmed nothing had gone to the planning stage yet with the Meriden Estate, but said an affordable housing grant had been applied for as the trust intends to build 500 homes across Watford and Three Rivers by 2017.

Euan Barr said: "We are looking at development opportunities in all our community areas because we want to make use of the land we own to provide affordable homes. 

"We have identified that we could potentially provide a sheltered housing scheme and additional housing in the Meriden, but we haven’t prepared plans as yet. We are consulting with residents at this stage to find out their aspirations for the community. 

"We have an opportunity not just to provide new homes but a whole range of improvements to the area and the local facilities, and we would like local residents to help with our thinking on this. That’s why we have set up a joint action group called the ‘Placemakers’, which will work together with residents to identify and unlock potential. 

"We are holding an event on Meriden Park on Saturday 13 where we will be inviting everyone to give us their views."