This neighbourhood, nestled between the villages of Leavesden and Garston, has a quintessentially suburban feel to it, with a large proportion of semi-detached housing, boasting modest gardens and driveways. With the number of highly rated schools that are on offer, serving children from nursery to secondary school age, it is no surprise why this neighbourhood proves to be particularly attractive to those with families. One of the draws of this area is its proximity to a surplus of recreational open spaces, including Leavesden Country Park (where they hold weekly park runs for 4-14 year olds), Garston Park, and Stanborough Park. Should you prefer to spend your weekends inside, then this neighbourhood also delivers, as it is also home to the Watford Indoor Bowls Club, as well as a number of local community centres, hosting regular events ranging from martial arts classes to music lessons. With additional access to a cinema, bowling alley, and a plethora of local/chain eateries, this area really does have something for everyone!

Prior to 1910, Leavesden was sparsely populated and was predominantly used for agricultural purposes. By the 1930s, a number of housing estates started to appear, which paved the way for a new road network that was later developed in the 1950s. The real changes in this area occurred during World War II, however, when the Leavesden Aerodrome was established. With a runway capable of supporting heavy bombers, a number of aircraft hangars, and two factories (which produced Halifax bombers and Mosquitoes), the airfield, by the end of the war, was recorded as being the largest of its kind in the world. After being exchanged between different aircraft and automotive companies in the years succeeding the war, the site was taken over by Eon Productions in 1995 and is now partly home to the Leavesden Studios, as well as housing developments.

TV presenter, Bradley Walsh, was born and grew up in this neighbourhood. It may also interest you to know that this area was home to the former Leavesden psychiatric hospital – it is infamous for treating one of the Jack the Ripper suspects, Aaron Kosminski, in 1894.

One of the downsides of the area is its situation between four major roads: the M25, M1, A41 and A405. This creates problems with congestion at peak travel times, as well as noise/air pollution. Despite this, it offers residents living here a high level of convenience as they have easy access to these major roads, which allow them to travel into central London and the North.

The major changes taking place within this neighbourhood are largely centred around expansions to housing developments. Much of the development in the area has either been completed or is nearing completion, but a new Local Plan for Three Rivers has been drafted, with a second round of public consultations over the draft to be conducted in late 2022. The new Local Plan should include new development opportunities and priority schemes. That said, many sites have already caught the attention of the public and private sectors for further construction. Many of these sites are situated near to this neighbourhood area, including land surrounding Abbots Langley and land near to the Leavesden Aerodrome.

While planning applications have yet to approved or submmitted for these sites, there is reason to scrutinise their potential impact and contributuion to the area. The sites in question are located on Green Belt Land, which many residents are opposed to giving up for development and, while the area is in need of key improvements (such as the development of educational facilities and hosuing), recent developments were completed without providing the amenities that were promised by developers. The redevelopment of land belonging to the Leavesden Aerodrome in the late 90s without green public space and the recent development of a site on Woodside Road, Abbots Langley, without a primary school, provide old and current examples of how development in the area has not been completed as intended.