Watford Borough Council

Since its inception in 2013, the £500 million joint venture (JV) between Kier Property and Watford Borough Council has become a benchmark for successful public-private collaboration. The transformative Watford Riverwell project, located on a 70-acre site to the west of Watford, demonstrates the power of combining public vision with private sector expertise to deliver long-term value, sustainable urban regeneration, and vibrant community development.

The Watford Riverwell area, once a neglected and contaminated site left vacant after industrial uses, was earmarked by Watford Borough Council for ambitious regeneration.

Recognising the challenges posed by limited public resources and the scale of redevelopment required, the Council entered into a 50:50 partnership with Kier Property—one of the first of its kind and setting a national precedent for similar joint ventures.