Watford Borough Council has secured a £717,764 grant from the government to help clean up former industrial land in Watford, Hertfordshire. Announced on February 19, 2026, the money will be used to prepare the Riverwell site for new family houses and public areas by removing old underground structures and contaminated soil.
The funding comes from the Brownfield Land Release Fund, which helps councils fix up difficult plots of land that are expensive to build on. Work at the site will focus on clearing the remains of the old Watford Power Station, including concrete buried deep underground.
This cleanup work is expected to be finished by the summer of 2026. Once the site is ready, the council and its partner, Kier Property, plan to submit a formal planning application for new family homes in June 2026.
The Riverwell project is a long-term effort to transform 70 acres of land near the hospital into a new neighbourhood with jobs and riverside parks. So far, the project has already seen the completion of 580 homes, which includes 85 affordable units and housing specifically for older residents.
