Resident sounds new development warning

A Watford resident has hit out at a new development planned for Ascot Road. Developers of the site close to Morrisons and Ascot Road Community Free School say the scheme will provide 483 much-needed new homes, undercroft car parking for 220 cars, cycle spaces for over 500 bicycles, new businesses and employment opportunities for local people and a landscaped public realm. However a local resident, who asked not to be identified, said he has learnt that one of the blocks of flats will be 23 storeys high when he attended a public exhibition on the proposals and claims this will dominate the area. He commented: “I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. The height of this building will be completely out of character with the surrounding area. For example the YMCA building in Watford is 12 storeys, this will be nearly double. The buildings behind this site are eight floors high. The Premier Inn is only five floors.” Jesscia Stewart, leading the consultation for developers Orion, said a briefing will be organised for Byewaters estate residents as soon as a date is agreed. Hear more about this story and what’s happening in your local community in the December edition of MyWatfordNews, which will be distributed on December 9.