Watford Council's cabinet will be considering a joint venture with Mace to help transform town space into a sustainable community desitnation...
To support Watford’s ambitious Town Hall Quarter plans to transform the heart of the community, Watford Borough Council’s cabinet (7 July) will be considering the creation of a 50/50 joint venture between the council and Mace Developments.
This equal partnership would help completely revitalise the area around the historic Town Hall and Colosseum, creating a vibrant and sustainable community destination for everyone to enjoy.
The Town Hall Quarter is all about celebrating Watford’s rich history while building for the future. The iconic Town Hall and Colosseum are undergoing major refurbishments, with the Colosseum set to be handed over to their new operator AEG in the coming weeks and reopen in August 2025 as a premier entertainment venue. The Town Hall will become a dynamic community hub featuring a café, an expanded Museum of Watford to showcase the town’s heritage, and an Innovation Hub to support local businesses and entrepreneurs.
The current proposal with Mace will see Watford’s Town Hall area transformed into a thriving civic quarter and sustainable community, with ambitious plans to revitalise under-used spaces – including surface car parks – to deliver much-needed new homes and a range of complementary uses. These will include shops, cafés, eateries, and a new health facility, helping to create a vibrant and attractive urban destination at the northern end of the High Street.
The transformation will not only meet the demand for housing and local services but also enhance the setting of Watford’s key heritage landmarks – the Grade II-listed Town Hall, the Colosseum, and Watford Library – by creating a much-improved urban environment. The development would create welcoming, people-friendly spaces that encourage walking, cycling, and community activity – making the area a great place to live, work, visit, and enjoy.
By partnering with Mace Developments, known for their expertise in delivering successful regeneration projects, the council would be ensuring the project delivers the highest quality. This 50/50 joint venture would together the council’s knowledge of the town and Mace’s experience in creating vibrant communities, working together to make the Town Hall Quarter a reality.
Elected Mayor of Watford, Peter Taylor, said, “This will bring new life to the heart of our town. The Town Hall Quarter will be a place where history, culture, and community come together, offering fantastic spaces and services for everyone.
“This initiative will bring many benefits to our town, including new opportunities for local businesses, new homes and services. It will be environmentally friendly, with sustainable and energy-efficient designs. It will also help secure the future of our much-loved Town Hall and Colosseum, making them key parts of a thriving and modern town centre.”
The work will take place in phases over the next several years. The first stage, focused on developing detailed designs, will begin later this year, with opportunities for residents to get involved and have their say on the plans.
The Town Hall Quarter is set to become a place where heritage meets innovation, with spaces that will make Watford proud for generations to come.
