NEW HOPE PLANS HOMELESSNESS CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE

New centre will transform homelessness support services in Watford

New Hope is planning to build The Hub, a vibrant, purpose-built sanctuary for people experiencing homelessness in Watford. Meals, healthcare, housing advice and up to 30 emergency bedrooms, together under one roof.

What is The Hub?
Read the FAQs

NEW HOPE

Preventing homelessness. Transforming lives.

Person-centred support for single adults rough sleeping, at risk of rough sleeping, or now in their own accommodation — in Watford for over 35 years.

IN 2025/26

495

people were helped by New Hope

IN 2025/26

151

people were accommodated

Two men playing guitar together.
Two women sitting at a table, one writing on paper and the other holding a cup.

Latest updates

PROJECT STAGE: SITE ASSEMBLY

2025

124 Exchange Road purchased

Thanks to an exceptional gift from one of our supporters, New Hope now owns the building it has used as a night shelter and emergency accommodation for many years.

NOW

Project manager

We will shortly be commissioning an experienced project management company, who will begin work on a set of designs so that we can apply for planning permission.

NEXT

Completing the site

Our immediate focus is finalising the purchase of 120–122 Exchange Road from Watford Borough Council, so The Hub can be built across the whole site.

ABOUT NEW HOPE

Person-centred support for people facing homelessness in Watford.

A woman in a red sweater is showing a tablet to another woman.
Two men sitting on a couch, one of them pointing at a piece of paper.

Our focus is on single adults who are currently rough sleeping, at risk of rough sleeping, or have slept rough and are now in their own accommodation.

Founded over 35 years ago by a small group of volunteers, we have matured into a professional service, well-respected by our statutory partners, providing flexible and responsive care which is psychologically-informed, trauma-aware and holistic. We remain dependent on volunteers and the support of our local community.

Our work is broad — from street homelessness through to independent accommodation — and holistic, with a strong strategic objective to maintain and improve physical and mental health. New Hope now supports over 450 people each year, accommodating over 50 people every night, with an additional 16 beds from November to March.

Our aim is to help people achieve their own appropriate long-term accommodation and independence, and to live longer, healthier lives, contributing to their local community. We have staff and volunteers with lived experience of homelessness, many of whom have been beneficiaries of New Hope.

Read more on our main website: newhope.org.uk →

New Hope's ethos

“In an atmosphere of unconditional love and compassion, we seek to offer acceptance and respect to all. Love is at the heart of all we do; there is always hope and we never give up on anyone.”

ABOUT THE HUB

More than just a building.

The facility will be pleasant, modern, safe and secure — a place that both the local community and the town of Watford can take pride in.

The Hub will be a place of change, offering life-changing support from several agencies co-located under one roof: nourishing meals, vital healthcare, expert housing guidance and other support, and up to 30 emergency bedrooms for those who have hit rock bottom and have nowhere else to turn.

Designed to meet today's needs as well as tomorrow's challenges, The Hub will be future-proofed, providing compassionate, holistic care for generations to come. It brings New Hope's existing Outreach, Haven, Emergency Accommodation services together in one place.

A woman drinking coffee from a cup.

Under one roof

Up to 30 bedrooms

with

  • Meals
  • Laundry facilities
  • Washing facilities
  • Clean clothes
  • Medical care
  • Housing officers
  • Talking therapies
  • Hairdressers
  • Footcare
  • Addiction support
  • Mental health support
  • Wellbeing activities
  • Chaplaincy support
  • Benefits advice

Why now? Homelessness is increasing both in the UK and in Watford. We have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to create a first-class facility designed specifically for people experiencing homelessness — an accessible, trusted and welcoming space where we work in partnership with other agencies to help people navigate the systems out of homelessness.

LOCATION

120–124 Exchange Road, Watford

For many years, New Hope has used 124 Exchange Road, on Watford's ring road, as our night shelter and emergency accommodation. We were able to purchase this building in 2025 thanks to a very generous and exceptional gift from one of our supporters.

We plan to buy the adjacent building, 120–122 Exchange Road, currently owned by Watford Borough Council. It has been boarded up and unused for many years.

The Hub will then be built across the whole site, from 120 to 124 Exchange Road. The proposed new building will also extend towards the ring road, taking in some of the asphalt area at the front of 124 Exchange Road.

Why now

Homelessness in Watford is rising.

We have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to create a first-class facility designed specifically for people experiencing homelessness, accessible, trusted and welcoming.

BUILDING THE FUND

An £8 million project.
A £1 million fundraising campaign.

We estimate the entire project will cost at least £8 million. We have already raised over £1 million.

We plan to access funds from Homes England and from the sale of an existing property owned by New Hope, as well as raising money from the local community, grant-making trusts and legacies.

Our fundraising campaign target is £1 million.

Total project cost

£0.0m total cost
Over £1m secured
£7m still to raise
  • 01Homes England funding
  • 02Sale of an existing New Hope property
  • 03Grant-making trusts and legacies
  • 04Our local community — £1m campaign

ENDOURSEMENTS

Who is supporting The Hub?

The Hub has the support of Watford Borough Council, Watford MP Matt Turmaine, Sarah Perman, Director of Public Health, Herts County Council, and various community leaders.

“We are very pleased to support New Hope's plans to develop The Hub, a new centre that will strengthen the assistance available to people experiencing homelessness in Watford.

For more than three decades, New Hope has been an important part of Watford's voluntary and community sector, providing practical support to people facing homelessness and helping many individuals move towards greater stability and independence. Through its experience, local knowledge and strong partnerships, the organisation has earned a reputation as a trusted and valued provider within our community.

The Hub represents a significant investment in homelessness support. By bringing together emergency accommodation and a range of partner services under one roof, the project will make support more accessible, strengthen collaboration between agencies and help ensure people receive timely, joined-up assistance.

Watford has a strong tradition of partnership working across public services, charities, businesses, faith organisations and community groups. The Hub reflects that spirit of collaboration and has the potential to become an important community asset, enhancing the support available to some of the most vulnerable members of our community.

We are delighted to support New Hope's efforts to secure the investment needed to bring this project to fruition and wish the organisation every success as it moves into the next phase of development.”

Peter Taylor
Elected Mayor, Watford Borough Council

Donna Nolan
Chief Executive, Watford Borough Council

THE TEAM

Who is involved in The Hub?

New Hope is led by a Leadership Team, supported by the Board of Trustees.

LEADERSHIP TEAM

Direction of the project

New Hope's Leadership Team holds overall responsibility for The Hub, reporting to the Board of Trustees.

PROJECT MANAGERS

Design and construction

An experienced project management company will be appointed to lead the design work and, in time, the build.

HUB ADVISORY GROUP

Advice and scrutiny

A group with relevant professional experience, advising on the project as it develops.

CAMPAIGN CHAIR

Leading the appeal

Our campaign chair will lead the £1m community appeal. We will introduce them here shortly.

FAQs

Your questions, answered

If your question isn't here, please get in touch — we would rather answer it directly than leave it unanswered.

  • On the site of 120–124 Exchange Road, Watford, on the ring road. New Hope already owns 124 Exchange Road, our night shelter for many years, and plans to buy the adjacent 120–122, currently owned by Watford Borough Council and boarded up for years.

  • Several agencies working under one roof: meals, laundry and washing facilities, medical care, housing advice, mental health and addiction support, talking therapies, benefits advice, chaplaincy and wellbeing activities — alongside up to 30 emergency bedrooms.

  • No. New Hope has supported people facing homelessness in Watford for more than three decades, and has run emergency accommodation from Exchange Road for many years. The Hub brings existing services together into one purpose-built building instead of spreading them across ageing premises.

  • The new centre is not about bringing more homeless people into Watford. It is about giving people who are already homeless or at risk of homelessness in our town the support, stability and dignity they need to rebuild their lives.

    By providing a safe place to stay alongside practical support, advice and routes into permanent accommodation, the centre can help people move away from rough sleeping and towards independence. This should improve lives while also helping to reduce the visible impact of homelessness on our streets.

    The aim is simple: to support people who are already part of our community, help them find a way out of homelessness, and make Watford a better place for everyone.

  • The Hub will be staffed and managed by New Hope, as our Exchange Road accommodation is today, with clear expectations of everyone who uses it. Detailed operational plans will develop alongside the architectural designs, and we will share them as they are agreed.

  • We are at an early stage. Our immediate focus is completing the site purchase and commissioning architectural designs, which then go through planning. We will publish a timetable here once those dates are firm, rather than promise ones we cannot yet keep.

  • At least £8 million in total, of which over £1 million is already raised. We will be applying for funding from Homes England, selling an existing New Hope property, applying to grant-making trusts and launching an appeal to our local community.

  • Email us or call the office on 01923 210 680. We want to know your views so we can take them into account. Allow us to do that by telling us sooner rather than later.