Weston Homes to begin 227 Sydney Road development

Weston Homes will be converting the Watford Laundry Factory site in Sydney Road, west Watford, into 227 apartments.

Permission for the scheme was granted back in October – alongside a separate Sydney Road development of 278 homes.

Alongside the apartments will be a commercial facility, piazzas, parking (160 spaces), and green spaces. Of the 227 homes, 19 will be affordable, as was agreed by councillors at the planning committee last year.

The Watford Laundry factory was founded back in 1907 and has a rich history. It was founded by John Ross and known as the Watford Launderers & Cleaners. The Edwardian factory initially dealt with the laundry of wealthy residents of central London before winning a contract at Harrow School.

The factory washed clothing for the army and Royal Air Force in World War Two.

The factory was acquired by CLEAN Linen Services following Peter Ross’ death in 2013 before the site was sold to Fairview New Homes after CLEAN opened a new £15m site in Berkshire.

The laundry factory in more recent times

Now the site has been sold to Weston Homes and the company has already begun work on the project to build the 227 homes which is expected to take around two years to complete. Full construction will begin this autumn.

Bob Weston, chief executive of Weston Homes, said: “Our acquisition of the Watford Laundry Factory is the latest in a series of site purchases that Weston Homes is in the process of undertaking as part of our ongoing major expansion.

“Over the last six months the business has acquired 10 new sites including a series of major regeneration projects within Greater London. We now have a development portfolio of over 7,500 new homes with a completed value approaching £3 billion.”