Walter House in Welwyn Garden City has opened with 90 social rent and 38 shared ownership flats on the old Roche site. A buyers' open day runs on 7 November.

A new block of 128 affordable homes has opened on Broadwater Road in Welwyn Garden City, on the site of the former UK headquarters of the pharmaceutical company Roche.

Hightown Housing Association announced the completion of Walter House on 2 November. Work began in September 2024 and finished in October 2026.

Its contractor, Hill Group, says the job was finished two months ahead of schedule.

What has been built

The association’s announcement breaks the homes down like this:

  • 90 homes for social rent
  • 38 homes for shared ownership
  • 51 one-bedroom flats
  • 76 two-bedroom flats
  • one three-bedroom flat

All of the social rent homes have been allocated to people on Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council’s housing register. Hightown says Homes England funding let it charge social rent on those 90 homes, at around 50% of the market rate.

For scale, the council’s recent housing allocations report puts its register at 3,750 households.

Four-storey brick apartment blocks with balconies around a landscaped courtyard with raised planting beds and young trees.
The blocks and shared courtyard at Walter House. Photo: supplied by Hightown Housing Association.

The flats have air source heat pumps for hot water and electric radiators for heating. Rainwater harvesting flushes the toilets in every flat, and there are electric vehicle charging points.

What was said at the opening

Maxine Espley, Hightown’s chief executive, said the scheme had “transformed a brownfield site into a sustainable new community”.

Councillor Gemma Moore, the council’s executive member for housing, cut the ribbon alongside Welwyn Hatfield MP Andrew Lewin. She said it was “especially welcome that every social-rent home has been offered through the council’s housing register”.

Mr Lewin said: “There are not many developments that are able to provide such a high number of socially rented homes and this will make a real difference to local people on the social housing waiting list.”

What it means for you

The social rent homes have already gone, so anyone waiting on the register cannot apply for them now. The way the council allocates homes is itself about to change, with a consultation planned for later this autumn.

The shared ownership flats are still on the market. Hightown’s listing shows one and two-bedroom flats as available, with prices from £28,000 to £37,000. The summary does not say what share of the flat those prices buy, so ask before you compare them with anything else.

There is an open day on Saturday 7 November. It is by appointment, and you can book on 01442 292381.

Sources