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Dec 19

Flats of up to 13 storeys proposed in Watford town centre – Hillingdon Times

Hgh Comments Off on Flats of up to 13 storeys proposed in Watford town centre – Hillingdon Times

A developer wants to build a block of flats with no parking spaces in the middle of the town centre.

Plans for 100 flats next door to Primark in the High Street have been submitted to Watford Borough Council.

The development site is currently home to Bills Restaurant, Supercuts Retail Shop, a casino, Breakout Rooms, offices and car parking spaces at the rear.

The proposal is for a building of fourstoreys, stepping up to nine and 13 storeys to the rear of the building.

No car parking has been proposed.

Developer APG Portfolio Management Limited says the development is within easy reach of the town centre and therefore on-site parking is not considered essential.

No affordable housing is proposed either in its planning application report, the developer referred to the councils Core Strategy Policy HS3 report, which states that only in exceptional circumstances will the council consider a lower level of affordable housing.

APG says it will be left with a shortfall of more than 5.5 million between the proposed benchmark land value of nearly 8 million and the residual land value of 2.3 million.

It added that this is below the necessary level of profit required by lenders in order to fund a scheme and the proposed scheme cannot support the provision of any affordable housing.

The plans for the flatshave been met with some criticism.

Central Watford county councillor Stephen Giles-Medhurst said: We don't need more expensive penthouse appeasements in the town centre.

If they cannot afford to provide much needed social housing then just don't build it.

And Central ward councillor Rabi Martins also hit out at the plans, which he says will overlook the St Marys Church Conservation area if approved.

He said: "A tower in the centre of town which not only affects St Marys Church and its conservation area but also towers oven the new glass dome of the intu centre is totally and utterly unacceptable.

What makes it worse is the refusal of the developer to provide any affordable or social housing claiming they will not make a profit on the development if they do.

Mark Smith, of the Watford Field Residents' Association, added: "The developer's own heritage assessment concludes that there would be harm to the Grade 1 listed St Mary's Church and the St Mary's Conservation Area."

APG says its proposed development preserves and enhances the character and appearance of St Marys Church

A statement from planning agents HGH Consulting added: "This proposed will transform a key part of Watford town centre, which currently attracts high levels of anti-social behaviour, and will contribute towards the continuation of the public realm enhancement programme and investment within the town.

The scheme has evolved through extensive pre-application discussions with Watford Borough Council and their design review panel.

The sustainable and high quality designed development will deliver 100 much needed housing units and new retail/commercial space, on an under-utilised site in a highly accessible town centre location, which will deliver significant improvements to the public realm and pedestrian experience along the High Street."

To view the full planning application, click here. The planning application number is19/01340/FULM

The rest is here:
Flats of up to 13 storeys proposed in Watford town centre - Hillingdon Times

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