Mears transforms garage into community centre

Leading social housing repairs and maintenance provider, Mears, has transformed a disused garage at Haines Way, Watford into a community visitor centre.

Tenants can visit the centre to see an overview of the Decent Homes Programme that Mears is implementing for Watford Community Housing Trust. The Trust is spending £66 million over the next five years improving properties around Watford.

Officially opened by Diane Lee, chair of the Board for Watford Community Housing Trust, the centre also provides tenants with the opportunity to see samples of tiles and kitchen and bathroom units.

"Refurbishing the garage into a community visitor centre was a stroke of genius by the Mears team," explains Diane Lee. "We now have a central place where people can come to ask questions about the programme, view the materials being used in their own refurbishments and generally come together as a community, which is very important."

Mears plan to hand the office over to the Trust to use for ongoing meetings with tenants once the Decent Homes programme has been completed.