Luther Blissett House to open in Watford by early 2022

The Luther Blissett House, at Raphael Drive, will include 12 three-bedroom flats and five two-bedroom flats to be let for social rent, and it is expected to be completed by 2022.

There will also be a dedicated community space at the new development.

It is part of Watford Borough Council and Watford Community Housing’s £15.2million scheme to deliver 56 new homes for social rent in the area.

The new homes will be typically around half the cost of renting an equivalent property on the private market, and the name itself will be charming enough to those engaged with Watford’s local celebrity.

Talking about the development, he said: “I’m proud to be given the opportunity to put my name to this and I’m in awe of the work that Watford Community Housing and Watford Borough Council are doing.

“Obviously, it’s important to me because I grew up in social housing, but I also want to credit Graham Taylor’s influence too.”

He continued: “Graham reminded me, John Barnes, that entire team, of how privileged we were to be playing top-flight football for Watford at that time. He never let us forget that it was the community around us that was paying our wages and how it was crucial that we give back to a community that supported us so passionately.

“We’ve actually just started the Former Players Club, to continue our community work in Graham’s name, so there’s more of that on the horizon.”

Mayor Peter Taylor said: “Thanks to Luther, our Freeman of Watford for lending his name to these new homes for Watford families.

“Having a decent home underpins happiness, health and wellbeing and pretty much everything you do in life but with property prices and private renting prices higher than ever it is very hard for many people to afford a good place to live.

“That’s why providing affordable homes for local families has been one of my key priorities. I look forward to welcoming the families to their new homes early next year.”