Out of 11 shortlisted councils and many more submissions, the council received the Bronze Award for its submission ‘A connected town centre shaped for long-term success’...
Watford’s town centre has been transformed through a clear, town-wide strategy that treats it not as separate areas but as one continuous journey, shaped around economic resilience, greener travel, culture and community life.
This long-term ambition, co-created with residents and partners, has delivered one of the UK’s strongest-performing town centres, consistently achieving some of Hertfordshire’s highest footfall.
National recognition reflects this progress, with Watford ranked among the top places in the UK Vitality Index in both 2024/2025 and named one of England’s top 10 most sustainable places to run a business.
This balance has been supported by strong partnerships: the BID, Harlequin, cultural venues and many more. Together, they create a town centre designed for the long term, connected, confident, and unmistakably Watford.
