A former garage site in Oxhey has been converted into a small development of five three-bedroom homes.

Watford Borough Council, which owns the site in Riverside Road, says the properties are for affordable rent and designed to have very low bills over their lifetime.

This is achieved with high levels of insulation, PV panels on the roof and an air source heat pump which ensures the homes are well heated and warm in the colder months.

In line with the council’s climate emergency commitments, it says the properties should meet levels of BRE’s Home Quality Mark, meaning they are “highly energy efficient, green and built to an excellent standard”.

Watford Observer:

Two families have already moved in.

Mayor of Watford Peter Taylor said “We are using the land we own as a council to create affordable and sustainable homes for local people. These energy efficient homes are good for the environment and will mean lower fuel bills for residents too.”

Cllr Stephen Johnson, Portfolio Holder for Property, Planning and Housing, added: “The rising costs of fuel makes it more important than ever that the new homes we create now will cost very little to run.

“Hundreds of thousands of families across the UK are already in fuel poverty and can’t afford to heat their homes – that’s why the green homes like these at Riverside Road are so important and point the way towards future housebuilding in our town.”

The Riverside Road homes will be independently assessed against Level 4 of the Home Quality Mark in the Spring to ensure the design commitments in the original submission have been met.

Watford Community Housing will be responsible for the long term management of the homes.