This neighbourhood of East Holywell is predominantly a residential area, bordering a well-established and thriving business park to its West. With its modest and affordable housing, access to a number of good schools (serving children of all ages), and proximity to Croxley station, it is no wonder why this neighbourhood is particularly popular with families and commuters. On any given weekend, residents can be seen playing music at the nearby Titan Rehearsal & Recording Studios, working out at one of the local gyms, or attending meetings at one of the many community centres that can be found here; and if that wasn’t enough, Watford town centre is within easy reach, offering everything that could ever be wanted to keep one entertained.

During the 18th and 19th centuries, there were few options if you contracted an infectious disease, which ended up with a large number of people dying, whether that was the initial patient as they were unable to receive treatment, or those who came in contact with them. In 1893, an Act was passed to introduce Isolation Hospitals, which would treat these infectious patients, whilst keeping them in quarantine from others. Holywell Isolation Hospital was one of these hospitals, and was built on the site of a former Work House. During its operation, the hospital supported patients during a number of infectious disease outbreaks, including Scarlatina and Small Pox, which put a great deal of pressure on the hospital as there was too little space.

During World War One and World War Two, this pressure only increased with cases of measles/German measles, and Diphtheria respectively. When the NHS was formed in 1948, the Isolation Hospital was shut and was renamed Holywell Hospital, before being merged with Watford General Hospital in 1972. The building was demolished in 1985, and in 1988 the land was sold off for houses – there is no trace of the former hospital in the landscape today.

One of the downsides of this neighbourhood is the lack of green space within the immediate area, apart from a small section of allotments. This is particularly noticeable given the heavy industrial use of land to the west of the neighbourhood. Despite this, residents can make easy use of the nearby Cassiobury Park, which is just a short walk away.

The Three Rivers District Council, of which this neighbourhood is a part, has published its Local Plan, which details how it aims to build 600 new homes every year for the next 15 years. Whilst none of the sites have been confirmed, one of the proposed sites is on land south of Tolpits Lane, where 70-140 homes could be built. There is also an ongoing residential development off Tolpits Lane, adjacent to Latimer Close; planning permission was granted for this site in January 2017, which aims to deliver 40 dwellings of temporary accommodation and 36 affordable rental apartments, both of which will be a mixture of one and two bedroom homes. This development is a joint venture between Hart Homes and the local authority. The consultation stage is now underway for phase two of the development.