Plans to build 95 new homes under the £350 million Health Campus scheme were given the go-ahead last night.

Watford Borough Council’s Development Management Committee approved the Woodlands application last night (Wednesday, July 6), as part of Watford Borough Council and Kier Property’s project to redevelop land near Watford General Hospital.

The scheme, which was recently renamed Riverwell after previously being known as Watford Health Campus, will now include 95 flats across three blocks on land at Willow Lane.

Up to five will be made available as social housing and 24 will be intermediate housing, which will fall between social housing and open market housing.

There will also be communal gardens with a “woodland setting” and spaces for 61 cars and 95 bicycles.

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Mayor of Watford Dorothy Thornhill said new homes had always been “at the heart” of the scheme.

She said: “The entire Riverwell project will transform acres of disused and derelict land into a thriving new community for our town built around the River Colne.

“We were clear that we wanted to see a really high quality design and finish for these first homes on the site as they set the standard for the rest of the scheme.

“Now they have been approved, we can get on with getting them built and look forward to the first new families making their home at Woodlands, including those in need of affordable housing.”

Pip Prongue, managing director for Kier Property South and Watford Council’s development partner on the project added: “This is great news for the scheme and shows the significant progress we are now making.

“Other parts of the Riverwell project are also moving forward. Trade City, Watford Riverwell, which will create 180 local jobs will open later in the year and the partnership plan a big community clean-up of the river area this summer as part of the work it is doing to improve the River Colne and enhance the open space on site.”

The Riverwell team is also holding two community exhibitions over the next week to give people the chance to review the next stages of the plans and to talk to the team about the progress being made.

The exhibitions will take place at the Captain’s Suite at Watford Football Club in Vicarage Road on Saturday July 8 between 10am and 2pm, and on Tuesday July 11 between 4pm and 8pm