Grange Park, Northamptonshire

Infobox UK place
country = England
official_name = Grange Park
latitude = 52.18998
longitude = -0.882900
civil_parish = Grange Park
population = 327 (2001 Census) 2007 estimate: 3,500
london_distance = convert|65|mi|km|0
shire_district = Northampton
shire_county = Northamptonshire
region = East Midlands
constituency_westminster = Northampton South
post_town = NORTHAMPTON
postcode_district = NN4
postcode_area = NN
dial_code = 01604
os_grid_reference = SP675552
static_

static_image_caption= Grange Park Community Centre
The Green, Grange Park, NorthamptonTOCleft Grange Park is a large residential housing estate on the edge of the Borough of Northampton but outside the Borough boundary. Residents refer to its status as a "village", although in reality it is an extension to the Northampton urban area. It is convert|3|mi|km|0 south of Northampton town centre, in the shire county of Northamptonshire (Northants). It is very close to the M1 London to Yorkshire motorway junction 15, convert|65|mi|km|0 north of London and convert|45|mi|km|0 southeast of Birmingham.

Demographics

The 2001 Censuscite web|title = UK census 2001 - data|url = http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadDatasetList.do?a=3&b=797399&c=NN4+5FZ&d=16&g=473794&i=1001x1003&m=0&r=0&s=1222686825515&enc=1&domainId=15|accessdate = 2008-08-28] . shows a population of 327 people in the parish in 118 dwellings, however, the area was relatively undeveloped at that time. However, by the end of 2007 the area had grown to 1,439 houses with an estimated population of 3,500 according to the 2008 public electoral roll, compiled in 2007, which excludes minors and also a small number of people for privacy reasons. The next census data will be gathered in 2011 but not published till some time later.

Facilities

Community

The estate has a supermarket and community centre. There is also an hôtel and restaurant alongside the M1 junction. The estate has a pub, the Grange Inn Public House, a large playing field bordering the adjacent village of Quinton, a cricket club for juniors and seniorscite web|title = Grange Park Cricket Club for juniors and seniors|url = http://www.gpcc.co.uk/ |accessdate = 2008-09-26] , a youth club and scouts group. Just accross the other side of the A45 from the estate is the Collingtree Park Golf Course.

Industrial

An industrial estate largely consisting of warehouses or logistics companies borders to the south west between the estate and the motorway. There is smaller business estate at the border with the village of Wootton to the north west.

A recycling works and park and ride facility have been mentioned as possible developments for the site of an old sand pit and closed domestic refuse tip to the west alongside the A45 trunk road.

chools

There is a primary school, Woodland View. [ [http://www.northamptonshire.gov.uk/Learning/Institutions/schoolsdir.htm?SchoolDetail=9282228|Primary Woodland View Primary School at Northamptonshire County Council website. Retrieved on 26 September 2008] ]

The estate is in the catchment area, for children of statutory school leaving age, of Roade Secondary School and the only Sports College in the countycite web|title = Roade School Official website|url = http://www.roadeschool.northants.sch.uk/ |accessdate = 2008-09-25] is within walking distance at Wootton., a sports college, (see external link). This is in spite of the fact that newer secondary school, Caroline Chisholm Schoolcite web|title = Caroline Chisholm School Official site|url = http://www.ccs.northants.sch.uk/|accessdate = 2008-09-25] , which caters for children from age 4 to 19, is within walking distance at Wootton.

New Developments

A further development of 450 new homes together with an hôtel has been agreed by the West Northamptonshire Development Corporation. The development is on a site bounded by the A45 main road, an old sand pit used as a domestic refuse site but now closed, and the existing housing estatecite web|title = "Go-ahead for 450 new homes in Grange Park" - Northampton Chronicle & Echo|url = http://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/news/Goahead-for-450-new-homes.4103610.jp|accessdate = 2008-09-25] cite web|title = "Anger over Grange Park decision over 450 houses" - Northampton Chronicle & Echo|url = http://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/news/Anger-over-Grange-Park-decision.4118148.jp|accessdate = 2008-09-25] . The site was originally proposed as a site for an IKEAcite web|title = Grange Park Parish Council - history 2002|url = http://www.grangeparkpc.org/2002.htm|accessdate = 2008-09-25] store in September 2002, but after local opposition in 2003,cite web|title = "Housing gateway bid for Ikea site" - Northampton Chronicle & Echo|url = http://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/news/Housing-gateway-bid-for-39Ikea.3630335.jp|accessdate = 2008-09-25] it was built in Milton Keynes instead.

A major urban extension of 2,000 houses, of which "ca."35% would be affordable was proposed by Bovis Homes in July 2008 at Collingtree Park, just over the A45 from Grange Parkcite web|title = "Housing Golf course flooding sparks new homes protest" - Northampton Chronicle & Echo|url = http://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/news/Golf-course-flooding-sparks-new.4470808.jp|accessdate = 2008-09-26] .

Political structure

The estate has a Parish Councilcite web|title = Grange Park Parish Council|url = http://www.grangeparkpc.org/|accessdate = 2008-09-25] with eleven members elected every four years. The local district council is South Northamptonshire where it forms the 2-member Grange ward.

Transport

The county of Northants is at a north-south and east-west rail, motorway and fast road transport network. The Northampton Loop of the West Coast Main Line carries trains from Northampton to London Euston via Milton Keynes.

The estate borders on the M1 to the south-east and A45 the the west and north, so links to main trunk routes are very good. Typical travel times in minutes by road "(peak times in italics)" are: central London (via M1) 75 "(110)", Birmingham (via M1/M6) 45 "(60)", Manchester, (via M1/M6/M62) 120 "(175)", Leicester (via M1) 50 "(65)", Oxford (via A43) 50 "(60)", Cambridge (via A45/A14) 85 "(130)", Milton Keynes (via A508) 20 "(30)". Peak travel times by rail by Govia London Midland and Virgin Trains services) in minutes are: from Northampton to Central London 55, to Birmingham 65; from Milton Keynes to Central London 40 and Manchester 120. Airports at Heathrow, Gatwick, and London Stansted as well as Birmingham Airport are all within easy reach.

History

The area was developed from agricultural land around the turn of the century.

References

Externals links

* [http://www.southnorthants.gov.uk/ South Northants District Council]

ources

* [http://www.google.com/maphp?hl=en&tab=wl&q=Grange_Park,%20Northamptonshire%20United%20Kingdom (Google Maps)]