The UK has a housing shortage, and Watford, as a satellite town of London, has been set unfairly challenging targets. Despite new high rises being built around Watford Junction, near Croxley park, and plans to develop ‘The Range site’, Watford borough still falls short of the target set.

Speaking to fellow Watfordians, it’s clear that overdevelopment is one of the biggest local causes for concern. Unfortunately, all Housing Minister Robert Jenrick could offer to the council was the advice that “You will need to continue to consider innovative solutions to tackling delivery issues”. This is compounded by a Conservative MP who seems unwilling to fight for this cause.

Fairview’s revised proposal is worthy of some commendation. The number of flats has been reduced from 165 to 127, efforts have been made to ensure the development would not be too visually imposing and the plans include green spaces and a good focus on sustainability. However, there is still much left to be desired.

While maintaining the stance that Watford needs to see its housing targets reduced, a pragmatic approach, considering the needs of the community with a focus on social cohesion must be taken to new developments in our town. The brown site of the old North Watford bus station is a more favourable site for development, it’s certainly preferable to developing on a green space. However the new proposals make no mention of the affordability of the units, which must be factored into the equation.

Felix Tyszkiewicz

Labour Party candidate for Meriden