07 Nov 2024
Months after its official completion, tenants are finally moving into city centre development Jubilee Square.
The £64m project, on the site of the former police station and NHS clinic, was handed over by SADC in July, six years after work began.
SADC housing lead Cllr Jacqui Taylor welcomed some of the residents to their new homes, including Sheila Dawson-Papa, one of eight tenants moving from ageing Telford Court which is being decommissioned.
Cllr Taylor viewed Sheila’s two-bedroom flat in Francis Bacon House, one of Jubilee Square’s two landmark buildings.
Sheila told her: “I am love, love, love, loving it here. It is really great. It’s so comfortable. I have a fabulous balcony and I am just a short walk away from the shops.
“The move from Telford Court couldn’t have been smoother. The removal people were wonderful and they have now become my friends.”
Watford Community Housing purchased all of the development’s 93 new homes. Of these, 33 are social rent properties which have been allocated to people on the council’s social housing register.
The other 60 are being sold on a shared ownership basis to help young people and key workers get on the property ladder.
Discussions with prospective commercial tenants to occupy 5,000 square metres of commercial space – the equivalent of ten full-sized basketball courts – are ongoing.
Cllr Taylor said: “Jubilee Square was a highly ambitious project for a council of our size to undertake and we had to deal with the impact of unexpected events such as the pandemic, changes to building regulations and soaring inflation.
“However, seeing people like Sheila settle into their new home makes all that effort worthwhile. I am thrilled she is so happy with her new flat which has been finished to a very high standard.
“I was impressed with all the fixtures and fittings including the high-quality kitchen as well as the air source heat pump which provides hot water and, together with other eco-friendly features, will keep energy bills down.
“As a council, one of our priorities is to deliver more social housing and Jubilee Square is a striking demonstration of that commitment.”
Anyone is interested in acquiring one of the shared ownership flats can find more information here.
