Plans to build over Strangeways gardens branded a “nonsense”

Plans have been submitted to build five large houses on the rear garden of 32 Strangeways – a site that runs directly over a train tunnel. If approved, it would be accessed from Goodwood Avenue in North Watford.

Plans were submitted to Watford Borough Council in February to build three 3-bed semi-detached homes, one 3-bed terraced house, and one 5-bed semi-detached house. Trains serving the busy West Coast Mainline between Birmingham and Euston would travel at speed underneath.

According to the proposals, “the layout and orientation of the proposed buildings on the site means that the number of units over the underground train tunnel is kept to a minimum”.

Helen Nicell (pictured, left), whose home would border the new development, said she would “feel like I am looking onto a prison” if the plans were to be approved.

Liberal Democrat Nascot Councillor Mark Hofman, who has written to the council to share his objections to the plans, said: “I have been meeting with residents who are deeply concerned about the viability of this scheme. There appears a discrepancy regarding the ownership of the land and the suitability of accessing the site through a road already being used for Goodwood Park users, employees working at the Courtlands shops and their delivery drivers.

“In my view, the location of the scheme is utter nonsense, and I will be working with the community to oppose these plans in the coming weeks.”

At time of writing, the council has received twenty objections from residents living in Strangeways, Courtlands Drive and Goodwood Avenue.

Several local residents have already expressed concerns to councillors, as well as surprise having been told by the site’s owner recently that any development was a “no-goer”, one said.

Each home will have a designated parking space, two bike spaces and four bike areas will be available for visitors.

The application can be found on the council's planning portal via reference 23/00089/FUL, it is currently ‘pending consideration’.