Watford Borough Council has adopted two new planning documents that will help secure more affordable housing and make sure new co-living developments are high quality and well designed.
The first document updates how the Council calculates payments from developers when affordable homes can’t be built on site. It also includes a new process called a “late-stage review,” which looks again at a development’s finances near the end of construction to see if more money can be secured for affordable housing.
The second document sets clear standards for co-living developments – a growing type of housing where people have their own room but share some living spaces. The new guidance will help make sure these schemes are well designed, offer a good quality of life for residents, and fit in with existing neighbourhoods.
Both documents were shaped by public consultation earlier this year, and some small changes were made based on feedback. They were approved by Full Council on 15 July and now carry formal weight in planning decisions.
Elected Mayor of Watford, Peter Taylor, said: “We want to make sure new developments in Watford benefit our town and local residents. These new documents will help us prioritise more affordable homes and make sure co-living developments meet high standards. They’re a practical step to make sure we get the right kind of housing in our town.”
The new documents and adoption statement are available to view on the Council’s website.
