Bowers Yard Harpenden, St Albans
5 addresses across 3 postcodes (AL5), about 70 m long, classed as a restricted local access road. USRN 37325093.
- Energy: 4 homes have an energy certificate (B: 1, C: 3).
- Flood: 17 addresses on its postcodes are in areas at high or medium risk of flooding from rivers, the sea or surface water.
- Council tax: Most homes around it are in council tax band C; Band D in St Albans costs £2,419 a year in 2026-27.
- Broadband: Gigabit broadband is available to 67% to 100% of premises.
- Transport: The nearest railway station is Harpenden, about 430 m (0.3 miles) away in a straight line.
- Green space: The nearest park or garden, Bowers Parade Sensory Garden, is about 70 m away.
- Air: Background air pollution in 2024 was 10.6 µg/m³ of nitrogen dioxide and 7.4 of PM2.5, within UK legal limits.
- Height: Its addresses are 105 to 108 m above sea level.
- Noise: 1 of its 5 addresses is modelled at 55 dB or more from road traffic.
- Doctors: The nearest GP surgery is Davenport House Surgery, about 160 m away, with 3 practices within 1.6 km (1 mile).
- People: About 270 people lived in the census areas around it in 2021; 38% of households owned their home and 59% of adults held a degree or other higher qualification.
- Crime: 277 crimes were recorded within 250 m between September 2025 and August 2026, most often shoplifting.
Sales on this street
No sales recorded on this street since January 1995 under this street name.
Energy performance certificates
4 homes with a current certificate; median floor area 77 m². Most common: House, semi-detached (1); House, mid-terrace (1); House, end-terrace (1). Built: 2011 (2); 2012 onwards (1); 2012 (1). Tenure at assessment: owner-occupied (1).
Each home's certificates and sales (3 addresses)
Council tax
What each band costs in St Albans in 2026-27: Band D £2,419 a year on average, including the police, fire and any county and parish charges.
| A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| £1,613 | £1,882 | £2,150 | £2,419 | £2,957 | £3,494 | £4,032 | £4,838 |
Homes by band in the neighbourhood around this street: most are in band C (24% of about 1,220 homes).
Planning and heritage
- Conservation area: yes, Harpenden (council page). Extensions, demolition, some windows and doors, and work on trees need consent.
- Listed buildings on or by this street: 3.
- Article 4 direction (removing permitted development rights): none recorded, though not every council has published theirs.
- Tree preservation orders: none recorded, though not every council has published theirs.
- Green belt: no.
Listed buildings
- BOWERS HOUSE, grade II*
- 41, HIGH STREET, grade II
- The Cross Keys Public House, grade II
Brownfield land registered for housing within 1 km (0.6 miles)
- Signature House 23, Vaughan Road, Harpenden, AL5 4EL: up to 6 homes, permissioned (330 m)
- The Red House Harpenden Memorial Hospital: up to 34 homes, not permissioned (350 m)
Roadworks
No street works under way, planned or finished in the last three months on this street, in permits up to 31 October 2026.
Flood risk
Rivers, the sea or surface water: in this street's postcodes, 6 addresses are in areas at high risk, 11 at medium risk and 6 at low risk. Each address counts once, at the higher of its rivers-and-sea and surface-water risk.
Rivers and the sea alone: no home is in an area at risk.
High: 3.3% (1 in 30) or more chance of flooding a year. Medium: 1% to 3.3%. Low: 0.1% to 1%. Very low: under 0.1%. The rivers and sea figures allow for flood defences. Counts cover whole postcodes, which can include other streets.
Flood zone for planning: no postcode centre on this street is in flood zone 2 or 3.
| Postcode | Planning zone | Addresses at high / medium / low risk | Groundwater |
|---|---|---|---|
| AL5 2FD | not in 2 or 3 | 0 / 0 / 2 | unlikely |
| AL5 2FB | not in 2 or 3 | 0 / 5 / 4 | unlikely |
| AL5 2SH | not in 2 or 3 | 6 / 6 / 0 | unlikely |
Height above sea level
The street's 5 addresses are between 105 m and 108 m above sea level (107 m on average).
Broadband
| Postcode | Superfast (30 Mbit/s+) | Ultrafast (300 Mbit/s+) | Gigabit | Below 10 Mbit/s |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AL5 2FB | 100% | 96% | 96% | 0% |
| AL5 2FD | 100% | 100% | 67% | 0% |
| AL5 2SH | 100% | 100% | 100% | 0% |
Getting around
| Nearest | Distance | |
|---|---|---|
| Railway stations | Harpenden 2.8 million journeys in 2024–25 | 430 m (0.3 miles) |
| Luton Airport Parkway 4.7 million journeys in 2024–25 | 6.7 km (4.2 miles) | |
| St Albans City 6.7 million journeys in 2024–25 | 7.7 km (4.8 miles) | |
| Bus stops | 17 stops within 400 m (0.2 miles), 38 within 800 m (0.5 miles); nearest Old Cock Inn Harpenden | 70 m |
| Bus or coach station | Airport Bus Station Luton Airport | 7 km (4.3 miles) |
| Car parks | 3 within 800 m (0.5 miles); nearest NCP | 170 m |
| EV charging points | 1 within 1.6 km (1 mile); nearest Apcoa Charging Station | 310 m |
| Airport with scheduled flights | London Luton Airport LTN | 6.5 km (4 miles) |
Local services
| Nearest | Distance | |
|---|---|---|
| GP surgeries | 3 practices within 1.6 km (1 mile); nearest Davenport House Surgery | 160 m |
| Pharmacies | 5 pharmacies within 1.6 km (1 mile); nearest Boots | 150 m |
| NHS dentists | 10 practices within 1.6 km (1 mile); nearest Bowers Way Dental Surgery | 120 m |
| Hospital | Harpenden Memorial Hospital | 310 m |
| Police station | Harpenden Police Station | 230 m |
| Cash machines | The Cooperative Food Batford, Batford | 1.4 km (0.9 miles) |
Parks and green space
| Nearest | Distance | |
|---|---|---|
| Park or garden | 8 within 800 m (0.5 miles); nearest Bowers Parade Sensory Garden 1,000 m² | 70 m |
| Largest park within 800 m (0.5 miles) | Harpenden Common 39 ha | 330 m |
| Play area | 2 within 800 m (0.5 miles); nearest Unnamed 600 m² | 540 m (0.3 miles) |
| Playing field | Harpenden Cricket Club 2.3 ha | 840 m (0.5 miles) |
| Allotments | Topstreet Way Allotments 6,830 m² | 1.1 km (0.7 miles) |
Within 800 m (0.5 miles): 8 parks and gardens, 61 hectares in all.
Landmarks
The nearest historic landmark is Bowers House, a listed building (Grade II*), 20 m. 32 listed buildings are within 1 km (0.6 miles), 4 of them Grade II*.
| Name | What it is | From the middle of the street |
|---|---|---|
| Bowers House | Listed building, Grade II* | 20 m |
| Parish Church of St Nicholas | Listed building, Grade II* | 140 m west |
| Harpenden Hall (District Council Offices) | Listed building, Grade II* | 390 m south-east |
| Moat House Hotel | Listed building, Grade II* | 550 m (0.3 miles) south-east |
| Rothamsted Romano-British cemetery | Scheduled monument | 1.6 km (1 mile) south-west |
| Name | What it is | From the middle of the street |
|---|---|---|
| Lydekker Pond | Lake or reservoir | 340 m north-west |
| Baa Lamb Trees | Wood | 570 m (0.4 miles) south |
| Southdown Ponds | Lake or reservoir | 790 m (0.5 miles) south-east |
| Ambrose Wood | Wood | 1.2 km (0.7 miles) north |
| Westfield Wood | Wood | 1.4 km (0.9 miles) north |
| Brickle Dells | Wood | 1.4 km (0.9 miles) south |
Air quality
| Pollutant | Here | UK limit | WHO guideline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) | 10.6 | 40 | 10 |
| Fine particles (PM2.5) | 7.4 | 20 | 5 |
| Particles (PM10) | 11.8 | 40 | 15 |
All three are within the UK legal limits; nitrogen dioxide and PM2.5 are above the WHO guideline, as in most towns and cities.
Road, rail and aircraft noise
| Level | Road traffic | Railways | Aircraft |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60 to 64 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Under 55 | 4 | 5 | 5 |
1 of the street's 5 addresses is modelled at 55 dB or more from road traffic, above the WHO guidelines.
Climate, daylight and earthquakes
Monthly temperatures and rainfall, sunrise and sunset through the year, and earthquakes recorded nearby since 1970 are much the same across the area, so they are worked out once for St Albans: see them on the St Albans page.
Nearest schools
| School | Phase | Ages | Distance | Inspection |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| St Nicholas CofE VA Primary School Church of England | Primary | 4–11 | 150 m | No published inspection |
| Harpenden Academy | Primary | 4–11 | 240 m | No published inspection |
| St George's School Christian | Secondary | 11–18 | 600 m (0.4 miles) | No overall grade (Mar 2025, graded inspection without an overall judgement): Quality of education: Outstanding; Behaviour and attitudes: Outstanding; Personal development: Outstanding; Leadership and management: Outstanding |
| St Dominic Catholic Primary School Roman Catholic | Primary | 3–11 | 700 m (0.4 miles) | Outstanding (Nov 2023, overall grade under the previous framework) |
| Manland Primary School | Primary | 4–11 | 910 m (0.6 miles) | No published inspection |
| Sir John Lawes School | Secondary | 11–18 | 930 m (0.6 miles) | Outstanding (Mar 2023, overall grade under the previous framework) |
| Crabtree Infants' School | Primary | 4–7 | 1.1 km (0.7 miles) | Outstanding (Feb 2024, overall grade under the previous framework) |
| Crabtree Junior School | Primary | 7–11 | 1.1 km (0.7 miles) | Outstanding (Nov 2023, overall grade under the previous framework) |
| Roundwood Primary School | Primary | 3–11 | 1.1 km (0.7 miles) | Report card (Jan 2026): Curriculum and teaching: Strong standard; Achievement: Expected standard; Attendance and behaviour: Expected standard; Personal development and wellbeing: Strong standard; Inclusion: Expected standard; Leadership and governance: Expected standard; Early years: Expected standard; Safeguarding standards: Met |
| Roundwood Park School | Secondary | 11–18 | 1.2 km (0.7 miles) | Outstanding (Nov 2023, overall grade under the previous framework) |
| The Lea Primary School and Nursery | Primary | 3–11 | 1.4 km (0.8 miles) | No overall grade (Oct 2024, graded inspection without an overall judgement): Quality of education: Outstanding; Behaviour and attitudes: Outstanding; Personal development: Outstanding; Leadership and management: Outstanding |
| High Beeches Primary School | Primary | 5–11 | 1.4 km (0.9 miles) | No published inspection |
Food hygiene ratings nearby
| Business | Type | Distance | Rating | Rated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thompsons Close Cafe AL5 4ES | Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 30 m | 5 Very good | 9 Dec 2025 |
| Cinnamon AL5 4ES | Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 30 m | 2 Improvement necessary | 12 Jul 2025 |
| COOK AL5 2SH | Retailers - other | 30 m | 5 Very good | 4 Feb 2025 |
| Godfrey's AL5 2SD | Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 40 m | 3 Generally satisfactory | 20 Jul 2026 |
| The Cross Keys AL5 2SD | Pub/bar/nightclub | 50 m | 4 Good | 19 Sep 2024 |
| Old Cock Inn AL5 2SP | Pub/bar/nightclub | 90 m | 5 Very good | 19 Aug 2026 |
| Majestic Wine AL5 2RU | Retailers - other | 100 m | Exempt | |
| Nonno's Pizza also t/a Kactus Mexican and Pedrico AL5 2SP | Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 100 m | 5 Very good | 8 Sep 2026 |
| Okka cafe & Restaurant AL5 2SP | Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 100 m | 4 Good | 4 Sep 2025 |
| Zaza AL5 2SL | Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 130 m | 5 Very good | 20 Mar 2025 |
| Brew and Cru AL5 2SL | Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 130 m | 4 Good | 12 Sep 2025 |
| TG Jones AL5 2RU | Retailers - other | 140 m | Exempt | |
| Nonna's Cafe and Restaurant AL5 2SP | Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 150 m | 4 Good | 8 Feb 2025 |
| Boots UK Ltd AL5 2RU | Retailers - other | 150 m | Exempt | |
| Wesley's Cafe AL5 2RU | Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 150 m | 5 Very good | 10 Jul 2026 |
Crime within 250 m
| Category | Crimes |
|---|---|
| Shoplifting | 127 |
| Anti-social behaviour | 50 |
| Violence and sexual offences | 34 |
| Other theft | 14 |
| Public order | 9 |
| Other crime | 8 |
| Criminal damage and arson | 7 |
| Theft from the person | 6 |
| Robbery | 5 |
| Drugs | 5 |
| Vehicle crime | 3 |
| Possession of weapons | 3 |
| Bicycle theft | 3 |
| Burglary | 3 |
Most of these are attached to: On or near Church Green Mews (93); On or near High Street (80); On or near Vaughan Road (43); On or near Leyton Green (16); On or near Arcadian Court (9).
People and work
Who lives here
| Around this street | England | |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 49 | 40 |
| Children under 15 | 8% | 17% |
| Aged 65 and over | 25% | 18% |
Homes
| Around this street | England | |
|---|---|---|
| Owned (outright or with a mortgage) | 38% | 61% |
| Owned outright | 27% | 33% |
| Shared ownership | 0% | 1% |
| Social rented | 3% | 17% |
| Private rented | 59% | 21% |
Work and commuting
| Around this street | England | |
|---|---|---|
| Adults (16 and over) in work | 64% | 57% |
| Unemployment (of those working or looking for work) | 5% | 6% |
| Retired (of adults) | 24% | 22% |
| Long-term sick or disabled (of adults) | under 1% | 4% |
| Work mainly from home (of those in work) | 52% | 32% |
| Travel to work by car or van | 26% | 48% |
| By train, Underground, metro or tram | 6% | 4% |
| By any public transport, including bus | 6% | 8% |
| On foot or by bicycle | 15% | 10% |
| Work within 10 km (6 miles) of home (of those who travel to work) | 63% | 65% |
| Work 30 km (19 miles) or more away | 14% | 8% |
Education and languages
| Around this street | England | |
|---|---|---|
| Degree or other higher qualification, Level 4+ (of adults) | 59% | 34% |
| No qualifications | 6% | 18% |
| Apprenticeship as highest qualification | 4% | 5% |
| Main language English (aged 3 and over) | 86% | 91% |
| Cannot speak English well or at all | 2% | 2% |
Deprivation
The neighbourhood around this street is in decile 9 of 10 on the English Indices of Deprivation 2025, where 1 is the most deprived tenth of England's 33,755 neighbourhoods and 10 the least.
What has changed
- Food hygiene ratings The Shaken Cow (takeaway/sandwich shop, AL5 4ED) re-inspected, still 3 Generally satisfactory (rated 24 September 2026) found 30 October 2026
Postcodes on this street
- AL5 2FD: 3 addresses
- AL5 2FB: 1 address of 38 in the postcode
- AL5 2SH: 1 address of 18 in the postcode
Nearby streets
The Putterills · High Street · The Forresters · Thompsons Close · Bowers Way · Church Green · Church Green · Vaughan Road · Leyton Green · Kirkdale Road · Sun Lane · Avenue St Nicholas
What this page cannot tell you
- Whether a particular house is at risk of flooding, subsiding or anything else: the flood map is a model of areas and there is no property-level data here.
- What a home is worth now: sales are historic prices for the homes that happened to sell.
- How safe the street is: crime points are moved to anonymised locations and many crimes are never reported.
- Whether you would get a place at a school: distances are straight lines, not catchments.
- Who lives on the street now: census figures describe the small areas around it in March 2021, during a lockdown.
- How long a journey takes or how often anything runs: transport distances are straight lines to the nearest stops.
- Whether a GP practice is taking new patients, or a dentist new NHS patients.
- How loud a home is inside, or noise from industry, neighbours or smaller airfields: noise figures are models of road, rail and air traffic outside.
How each figure on this page is matched to the street and worked out: methodology.