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Chairman of Watford BC cuts the ribbon
Chairman of Watford Borough council, Cllr Alan Burtenshaw, officially opened Paradigm Housing’s new affordable homes at Willow Grange, Watford on August 19.
Before cutting the ribbon, Cllr Burtenshaw echoed the words of Mayor Dorothy Thornhill at the opening of Paradigm’s development at Queen Mary’s Avenue in Watford, saying “She said that the days of social housing being inferior are long gone. These homes are another example of this. Paradigm is continuing to build superb new homes in Watford and on behalf of the council I would like to thank you.”
The housing association worked with developer Barratt Homes on this attractive gated community close to the centre of Watford. Watford Borough Council supported the Paradigm’s application for additional funding from the Homes and Communities Agency.
The event was also attended by Cllr Mark Watkin, Cllr Andrew Mortimer, council officers and Paradigm residents.
Chair of Paradigm’s Commercial Board, David Easson presented a bouquet of flowers to happy resident Roz Cross. Mrs Cross and her husband Robb had waited on Watford’s housing register from 1991 until they were housed here. She said: “It’s so lovely and I get a woodpecker on my bird feeder!”
Paradigm has 40 homes on the site for rent to people on Watford’s housing register, including two three-bedroom houses and one five-bedroom house.
It has also sold 11 apartments through an affordable shared ownership scheme designed to help first-time buyers get a step on the housing ladder. Buyers typically purchased a 40% share. So on the most affordable apartments priced at £175,000, buyers would they pay their monthly mortgage on the £70,000 and rent of £246 on the 60% retained by Paradigm.
The heart of Willow Grange is a Victorian manor house, later used as the headquarters of British Waterways, who extended the property and added the large ornamental pond in 1990. This has been retained and refurbished and the new apartment buildings and houses are sympathetic to its architecture. A number of mature trees have been retained, along with a large pond, and a wildlife walk has been created along the front of the site.
