A major step forward has been achieved in the regeneration of Watford Riverwell, following the award of £717,764 from the Brownfield Land Release Fund (BLRF) to support enabling and remediation works.
Watford Borough Council secured the funding through BLRF Round 2.4, with the application submitted in December 2025 and approval confirmed on 19 January 2026. The grant will support remediation and enabling works within the wider £500m Watford Riverwell regeneration programme being delivered through a joint venture between Watford Borough Council and Kier Property.
The funding will enable the remediation of former land with complex industrial legacy, including historic power station infrastructure remaining below ground. The works will focus on removing contaminated material and below-ground obstructions to create clean, development-ready land that will support future phases within the Riverwell masterplan.
Remediation and enabling works are scheduled for completion in Summer 2026 and will include site clearance, removal of fly-tipped materials and the off-site disposal of contaminated and inert soils and concrete. Once complete, the joint venture aims to submit a planning application by June 2026 for new family housing.
Alongside the c.£44m of infrastructure improvements made, the Riverwell Joint Venture has so far successfully delivered 580 new homes, including 255 for senior living and a further 85 affordable homes across the site. Future phases of mixed-tenure housing, including affordable homes are expected to come forward later this year. The proposals prioritise placemaking through landscaped communal spaces, improved public access, green corridors and enhanced pedestrian and cycle links, alongside new energy-efficient homes and sustainable drainage systems.
Elected Mayor of Watford, Peter Taylor added: “Securing this government grant is a really important milestone for Watford. It unlocks a complex brownfield site and brings us a big step closer to delivering more high-quality, affordable family homes. By investing in remediation now, we’re turning a challenging former site into a safe, sustainable neighbourhood with green spaces, strong connections and real benefits for the wider community. This is exactly the kind of regeneration that helps Watford grow in the right way.”
Elected Mayor of Watford, Peter Taylor with representatives from Kier Property at Avenues Phase 1
Leigh Thomas, Group managing director for Kier Property said: “This funding is critical to unlocking future phases of development. Complex ground conditions have been a significant barrier to progress and the Brownfield Land Release Fund allows us to address those challenges head-on. It enables us to prepare sites for development and move forward with confidence towards delivering much-needed family and affordable homes, alongside high-quality public spaces that will benefit the wider community.”
The land meets the National Planning Policy Framework definition of brownfield land and has remained undeveloped due to the scale, complexity and cost of remediation. Rising construction costs and wider economic pressures have further impacted viability. BLRF support is therefore essential in bridging this gap, reducing risk and accelerating progress towards housing delivery, currently targeted for 2029.
Future phases will be governed through the established joint venture, ensuring strong oversight, transparency and accountability, supported by experienced consultants and technical specialists to deliver schemes in line with funding requirements and agreed timescales.
For more information about the Watford Riverwell joint venture visit: www.watfordriverwell.com
