Search
Close this search box.

Redesigning the high street – Watford Borough Council

Watford Borough Council commissioned Project Centre to redesign a key section of Watford High Street. The intu shopping centre invested £180 million in the extension and refurbishment of its offer. The Council identified that a substantial investment was required to complement this scheme and maximize the anticipated increases in footfall. The High Street, although vibrant, had large numbers of illegal vehicles cutting through. In addition to the significant volumes of bus traffic which caused congestion. The carriageway was wide, and the previous layout caused pedestrians to be constrained to the narrow footways, cluttered with furniture. Utilising our multi-disciplinary team of highway engineering, traffic engineering and urban design we restructured the High Street. It made it feel more pedestrian-friendly, safer and better for businesses.

Process

The many facets within this scheme included:

Vehicle restrictionThe area was predominantly a pedestrian zone except for buses, taxis and loading at any time The design reduces the volume of traffic, enabling improvements. Through the relocation of taxi ranks and disabled parking to areas adjacent to the High Street.

Bus lane/bus stopsThe concentration of bus stops caused congestion on the footway.  The design rationalised the bus stops making the space more permeable and re-routed some buses. It provided greater bus access to other areas of the town centre and relocated some regulating activities.

CarriagewayThe carriageway was approximately 6.9m wide, dominating the space. Due to the low volume of vehicles that officially require the carriageway the design placed the bus cages within the carriageway, narrowing it down to 5.5m and providing additional footway space for pedestrians.

MaterialsThe project sought to link the variety of materials used across the town centre.  As the project is the centre piece to the High Street the materials used are of high quality with some bespoke detailing where adequate.

Street furnitureThe previous street furniture layout was restricting footway widths and forcing pedestrians away from the carriageway.  Through careful design Project Centre created a street furniture corridor which provided a “safe route” for pedestrians away from vehicle movements whilst providing permeability.

Impact

By all means, the relocation of the taxi rank and disabled parking as well as re-routing some bus routes. It also removed vehicles from the High Street, enforcement has stopped illegal traffic through the site.  This has resulted in a reduction of over 65% (over 740) vehicles per day and reduced the number of buses in this area by 42%.

Watford High Street is a successful as much as safe shopping street that is ready to welcome residents and visitors for the next few decades. 

Speak to one of our consultant today.

Make a payment

Other ways to pay Marston:

0333 320 1100

Marston - 24-hour automated payment line

0333 320 1822

Speak to Marston team to make a payment or to discuss your circumstances

Engage logo

For payments to Engage Services:

0333 3206 200

Speak to Engage Services team to make a payment

Customer support

Speak to Marston team to make a payment or discuss your circumstances:

0333 320 1822

Our opening hours are 8 AM to 8 PM Monday to Friday, 8 AM to 4 PM on Saturdays.

Contact by post:

It is always quicker and easier to contact us by phone or email. If you do need to send us anything in the post, please send it to:

Marston, PO Box 324,
Rossendale, BB4 0GE

To pay by post, send a postal order, cheque or banker’s draft, made payable to ‘Marston’ to the address above. Make sure that you write your name and our reference number on anything you send us and if sending us a payment, on the back of the postal order, cheque or banker’s draft so we know what the payment is for.

If you are an Engage Services customer,

click here for help,

or to speak to one of our team, call

0333 320 6200

.

If you have received a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) you must follow the instructions on the reverse of the notice which contains full contact details for the applicable enforcing authority.

Transfer Up instruction form

This service allows you to apply for County Court Judgments to be transferred to the High Court for enforcement.

Writ of delivery instruction form

Our Enforcement Officers are well equipped and experienced in recovering all types of fixed assets whether it be a single car or fleet.

Money judgment enforcement form

We can enforce judgments obtained in the High Court and almost any judgment issued in the County Court.

Commercial forfeiture instruction form

Landlords may instruct us to take peaceful possession of their commercial property.

CRAR enforcement form

Instruct us to recover commercial rent arrears.

Trespasser removal enforcement form

We can handle the process quickly and resolutely. Our dedicated team will attend the scene on receipt of the warrant and effect eviction without delay.

Residential possession enforcement form

Instruct us for evicting residential tenants.

Process serving and tracing instruction form

We specialise in process serving throughout England and Wales. Court and legal documents are served on a same day-basis when required. We also undertake trace enquiries.

Employment Tribunal Enforcement Form

Instruct us to enforce employment tribunal awards. We can apply to the court to register the award as a Judgment.

European Enforcement Order Instruction Form

If you have a Judgment from a Country outside of the Jurisdiction of England and Wales but where the Debtor resides in England and Wales then we can assist you.

New business enquiry - Marston Holdings

Get in touch with our specialist team

New business enquiry - ParkTrade

Get in touch with our specialist team

New business enquiry - Engage

Get in touch with our specialist team

New business enquiry - NSL

Get in touch with our specialist team

New business enquiry - Videalert

Get in touch with our specialist team

Contact us

Debt recovery and enforcement services

Client support

Scott and Co logo

For more information

Scott & Co (Scotland) LLP

9 Melville Crescent Edinburgh, EH3 7LZ

0333 3206 871

Business enquiries

Business enquiries form

Use our online form and a member of our team will be in touch as soon as possible.

Client support

ParkTrade logo

For more information

ParkTrade Europe AB

Sturegatan 16, 114 36 Stockholm, Sweden

+46 8 663 54 00

Business enquiries

+44 333 3202 985

Media enquiries

Business enquiries form

Use our online form and a member of our team will be in touch as soon as possible.

Client support

Marston Holdings Logo

For more information

Marston Holdings

Rutland House, 8th Floor, 148 Edmund street, Birmingham, B3 2JR.

0333 3203 355

Business enquiries

0333 3202 985

Media enquiries

Business enquiries form

Use our online form and a member of our team will be in touch as soon as possible.

Client support

Project Centre logo

For more information

Project Centre Limited

0330 1358 950

Business enquiries

Business enquiries form

Use our online form and a member of our team will be in touch as soon as possible.

Client support

Project Centre logo

For more information

Project Centre Limited

0330 1358 950

Business enquiries

Business enquiries form

Use our online form and a member of our team will be in touch as soon as possible.

Client support

Project Centre logo

For more information

Project Centre Limited

0330 1358 950

Business enquiries

Business enquiries form

Use our online form and a member of our team will be in touch as soon as possible.

Client support

Project Centre logo

For more information

Project Centre Limited

0330 1358 950

Business enquiries

Business enquiries form

Use our online form and a member of our team will be in touch as soon as possible.

Client support

Project Centre logo

For more information

Project Centre Limited

0330 1358 950

Business enquiries

Business enquiries form

Use our online form and a member of our team will be in touch as soon as possible.

Client support

Project Centre logo

For more information

Project Centre Limited

0330 1358 950

Business enquiries

Business enquiries form

Use our online form and a member of our team will be in touch as soon as possible.

Client support

Marston Holdings Logo

For more information

Marston High Court

5th Floor, 148 Great Charles Street, Queensway, Birmingham, B3 3HT

0333 3202 549

Business enquiries

Contact by post:

5th Floor, 148 Great Charles Street, Queensway
Birmingham, B3 3HT
DX 13014 Birmingham.

Business enquiries form

Use our online form and a member of our team will be in touch as soon as possible.

Client support

Engage logo

For more information

Engage

Wavell House, Holcombe Road, Rossendale BB4 4NB

0333 320 6200

Business enquiries

Business enquiries form

Use our online form and a member of our team will be in touch as soon as possible.

Client support

NSL logo

For more information

NSL Limited

12th Floor, One America Square, London, EC3N 2LS

If you have received a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) you must follow the instructions on the reverse of the notice which contains full contact details for the applicable enforcing authority.

0333 3203 355

Business enquiries

NSL checking - Identity Verification Service

Business enquiries form

Use our online form and a member of our team will be in touch as soon as possible.

Client support

Videalert logo

For more information

Videalert Limited

The Clock House, 87 Paines Lane, Pinner, Middlesex, HA5 3BY

Business enquiries form

Use our online form and a member of our team will be in touch as soon as possible.

Client support

Project Centre logo

For more information

Project Centre Limited

0330 1358 950

Business enquiries

Business enquiries form

Use our online form and a member of our team will be in touch as soon as possible.

Client support

Project Centre logo

For more information

Project Centre Limited

0330 1358 950

Business enquiries

Business enquiries form

Use our online form and a member of our team will be in touch as soon as possible.