There's A New Neighbourhood In Town. Or, At Least, There Will Be Soon!
Houlton, Rugby’s newest neighbourhood is starting to take shape.
The groundwork for the first of its homes has begun – and the houses themselves will begin appearing in 2017. Three housebuilders will be on the site by summer 2017 including Davidsons Homes, Morris Homes and Crest Nicholson.
We look forward to welcoming you to the newly created Dollman Farm courtyard in the New Year for lunch or simply a coffee and cake and to see our progress. The old farm house has been completely refurbished and extended to home a new Visitor Centre and office. The old barn has been rebuilt to offer community and events space and the courtyard is completed by The Tuning Fork, Rugby’s newest eatery.
Are you Wild About Wildlife? During 2016 we have planted around 17 species of new trees, including some mature and semi-mature willow and oak trees. We also created 40 acres of wildlife habitat. As we continue to build more new roads and install services, we are pushing on with the creation of our green corridors – planting more trees and creating further habitat for our resident wildlife and great crested newts.
Read All About It! We’ve been working with local resident and historian Malcolm Hancock to learn about the site’s heritage and how it might live on in the future of Houlton. Malcolm was station manager at the old Rugby Radio Station and worked there from being an apprentice through to retirement. He has written a book, ‘The History of Rugby Radio Station’ and we are publishing this for him, available in January 2017.
Walk, Ride, Drive... Those who travel down the Crick Road will have noticed its transformation. It has been realigned and there is a new footpath and cycleway running alongside. Both the road and footpath will be open by the end of the year. On the theme of roads – the new road, which will connect Houlton to Butlers Leap and into town, is set to begin construction in Spring and should be completed by the end of 2018.
September 2017, The School Year Starts Here. Construction of St Gabriel’s is progressing well with the clock ticking for a September 2017 opening. A Headteacher is appointed and we are in the process of marketing the school to parents with Reception age children looking for a school place. Look out for more information on this and check out our story on the back page.
