Few towns have emerged unscathed from the pandemic, and the closure of both its anchor stores — John Lewis and Debenhams — was a bitter blow for Watford.
But it’s a resilient place: new shops and other businesses are opening, major developments are in progress or have planning permission and — most importantly for some locals — Watford FC is once again playing in the Premier League.
Add excellent schools and brilliant connectivity — minutes from the M1, M25, A41 and the choice of mainline, Metropolitan line and Overground services — into the equation, and it’s no wonder that estate agency Hamptons International recently reported that it’s one of the top ten destinations for Londoners leaving the capital.
Even though stock levels aren’t what they were when the stamp duty holiday was at full throttle, purchasers have plenty of options.
These include purpose-built flats and conversions starting at under £200,000, Victorian terraces and sprawling detached houses, with North and West Watford providing best value for money.
‘Cassiobury and Nascot Wood are the most aspirational addresses for people looking to upsize,’ says Paul Thompson of estate agency Proffitt & Holt.
‘There’s always lots of movement within the town as well as from outside it due to the schools, transport links, and that it’s within striking distance of London.’
What’s new on the block
Plans for the area include the regeneration of Watford Hospital and Watford Business Park, and upgrading the Town Hall and the area around it.
The council aims to deliver 14,000 homes over the next 18 years, with approximately 1,200 one, two and three-bed apartments plus a new primary school coming at Berkeley’s The Eight Gardens, a two-minute walk from Watford Junction.
At Orchid Court, also convenient for the same station, buyers of the one, two and three-bed apartments can expect high spec, light-filled interiors and eco-friendly features such as mechanical ventilation and heat- recovery systems.
Some have balconies and underground parking spaces, from £315,000 with Help to Buy on offer, via Hamptons.
Bellway’s Waterside at Riverwell, on the banks of the River Colne and close to the hospital, forms part of Watford’s largest regeneration scheme.
All the one, two and three-bed apartments incorporate a balcony or terrace, and a one-bed show home launches next month, from £280,000.
The Laundry Works, from Weston Homes, comprises 248 one, two and three-bed apartments on a former laundry factory site.
Spread across eight buildings with landscaped gardens throughout, they feature full-height windows and open plan layouts, from £280,000.
A mix of suites (studios), one and two-bed apartments, all with private outdoor space, are on offer at St William’s The Arches, a gated scheme tucked behind a large Lidl.
Residents will have access to two landscaped podium gardens with outdoor wifi, from £321,000 and Help to Buy’s available, via Berkeley.
And studio, one and two-bed apartments will be launching in January at London Square Watford, in North Watford. Click here to register your interest now.
Everything potential buyers should know about Watford
Average house price: £434,781
Average rent: £1,320 pcm
Council tax (Band D): £1,961.87
Commuting time to Zone 1: From 15 mins from Watford Junction to Euston
Annual Travelcard: £3,884
Amenities: ★★★★☆ Chains, eateries, Cineworld, Hollywood Bowl, Rock Up indoor climbing and Escape Hunt escape room in the newly renamed Atria shopping centre; further stores and restaurants on the High Street; Waterfields, Century and Watford Arches retail parks; Harry Potter studio tour at nearby Leavesden; Watford Palace Theatre; Pump House Theatre & Arts Centre; Watford Fringe takes place on October 1-3; Watford Museum; Watford Leisure Centre
Open space: ★★★★☆ Cassiobury Park was voted by locals as one of the country’s best parks; Oxhey Park; Cheslyn Gardens; Grand Union Canal towpath; plans to open up the Watford section of the River Colne
Schools: ★★★★★ Watford Grammar School for Boys, Watford Grammar School for Girls and Parmiter’s, a comprehensive, are top performers; all state primaries and secondaries rated as outstanding or good by Ofsted
Crime: Below national average
Who lives there? Young professionals priced out of London and families
Famous faces: Bradley Walsh, Geri Halliwell and Anthony Joshua were born and raised in Watford
Schools, crime and house price data supplied by Zoopla
What can I afford to buy in Watford on the property ladder?
£190,000
A town centre studio flat with a screened-off sleeping area. Watford Junction station and Cassiobury Park are within walking distance.
£425,000
This three-bed Victorian mid-terrace is half a mile from the tube station and includes a bay-windowed sitting room, study, family/dining room and a utility.
Check it out at Brown and Merry
£1.75 million
On one of the area’s best roads, this substantial house backs on to Cassiobury Park and has five bedrooms, a self-contained annexe and a gym.
Check it out at Proffit & Holt
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