Upton Green
On the pleasant open outskirts of Northampton, just a short walk from Sixfields Leisure Park, Upton Green is an attractive, eco-friendly development designed to combine exceptionally high standards of energy efficiency with a village ambience. In a superbly convenient location, it is just three miles from the town centre and close to the M1 motorway.
Eco Friendly
Built under the auspices of English Partnerships and The Prince’s Foundation for the Built Environment to a strict design code that specifies a limited range of environmentally friendly building materials, most sourced locally.
Eco-friendly features
Some houses incorporate solar technology – 43% (54 out of 123 homes) have solar collectors on southerly aspect roof slopes. They operate in daylight (not just sunlight) and can heat 70% of the hot water requirement for a typical four-bed family.
Every house has its own rainwater harvesting system, with a reservoir buried beneath the rear gardens to store water that can be used for watering the garden and cleaning the car. It is also filtered and brought back into the home for the washing machine and flushing selected water closets.
Homes have high ceilings with tall windows to maximise natural light. In addition low energy light fittings are used throughout.
The latest condensing boilers are being used that operate at 94% efficiency.
Overall, homes are designed to achieve the top score of ‘Excellent’ in the BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method) measure of environmental performance. They are also designed to achieve the highest NHER (National Home Energy Rating) of 10 for energy usage in the home. In fact, thermal insulation exceeds Building Regulation requirements by 50% (by 20% in lofts).
English Partnerships has installed a SUDS system (Sustainable Urban Drainage System) through the whole site. Rainfall is disposed of by a series of linked, shallow ditches providing a controlled flow into the river. The ditches and swales (ponds) are planted to provide a nature conservation as well as an amenity function.
The Deputy Prime Minister has given the development his seal of approval and the Prince of Wales, who shares many of its design principles, has also paid a visit in early 2006, to lend his support.
Location
The home of the celebrated annual Hot Air Balloon Festival, Northampton is a lively town with something for everyone.
Leisure
Close to open countryside and within walking distance of the peaceful Victoria Park and delightful walks along the Grand Union Canal tow-paths, Upton Green is an ideal base for the outdoor life. However, more organised activities within easy reach include the nearby Sixfields Leisure Park with a multi-screen UGC cinema, a Megabowl complex and a choice of bars and restaurants. Just a little further away, the Danes Park Leisure Centre offers a swimming-pool with a flume, comprehensive gym facilities, sports hall, sauna, steam room and a climbing wall. In Northampton town centre, the Royal and Derngate theatres present varied programmes of live entertainment, and there is a casino and a wide choice of bars, restaurants, clubs and nightlife. And with major attractions such as Silverstone Grand Prix racing circuit, Santa Pod drag racing and Rockingham Speedway nearby, there’s no shortage of excitement to contrast with the tranquillity of Upton Green.
Shopping
There is a Sainsbury’s supermarket and a range of food outlets and convenience stores within around a mile of the development. The town centre offers a superb selection of high-street shops and specialist retailers, many of them housed in the attractive Grosvenor and Peacock Centres and their surrounding streets, and the 750- year-old Market Square hosts one of the country’s largest open-air markets.
Transport
Upton Green is just a mile from the M1, and Northampton has good national bus and rail links. There is a bus-stop for local services adjacent to the Upton development, and Luton Airport is around 40 minutes away.
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