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Article from Northamptonshire Advertiser, Friday 20 October 1961

BURTON OF THE FUTURE

Map showing proposed development

TRIANGLE IS BEING FILLED IN

In the not far distant future it is hoped that the plan of Burton Latimer will look something like this (see above map). At present the land to the right of the plan is farm and allotment land, but B A Evans, the Burton Latimer building contractors, hope to begin work on the area very soon. The plans involve sixteen and a half acres of land (within the dotted line), which Evans are to develop, and the rest of the area pictures, which is to be developed at a later date. The school site will be developed by the County Council.

FIRST SHOW HOUSES OF MAJOR DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME READY IN THE NEW YEAR

In a few years the “triangle” around which Burton Latimer is built will be completely fitted in – and the first stage in this major development programme has already begun.

At present development in the town has been along Station Road, High Street and Finedon Road, with another area along Cranford Road developed. The new scheme will mean that the triangle of land between Station Road, High Street and Finedon Road – at present allotment fields and farmland – will be completely built over providing homes for a large number of people. The area was made available for development by the laying of a new sewer, which has just been completed.

At present the site plan for the development of the allotment land – sixteen and a half acres in all – has been approved, and the contractors, B A Evans, the Burton Latimer, builders, hope to have their first show house ready in the New Year.

BLOCK OF SHOPS

The plan provides for 140 bungalows, though provision has been made for houses if purchasers want them, and a block of shops with living accommodation in flats. A large site has also been reserved by the Northamptonshire County Education Committee for a new junior school.

Mr C Evans, who has been handling the scheme for the firm, told a “Leader” reporter that inquiries have already been received from prospective customers about the plans.

The plans, he said, have been drawn up so that they can be altered according to demand. “If houses are wanted, we can build them,” he said, “and if anyone should want to build a public house on the site, it can be arranged. But in the first instance we are planning to build only the bungalows and the shops.”

MODERN DESIGN

The bungalows are all modern in design – there are eight different types – and plenty of colour will be used in building materials to avoid any hint of monotony.

The proposed roads will link up with Finedon Road via Finedon Street and Whitney Road with Station Road via Bridle Road and with Regent Street and there will eventually be a new road leading to High Street near the Council Offices.

For people living on the Finedon Road estate there will be a new way into Kettering – via the new estate roads and then along Polwell Lane – thus avoiding the busy High Street.

Other development in the town includes the utilisation of the present Caravan Site off Regent Road and the alteration to the town’s main road – the A6 – near The Cross. The Cross is to be moved into the council office gardens; making room for the reconstruction and alteration of the Church Street-High Street junction by the County Council.

N.B. The author of this article, like many non-Burtonians, fell into the trap of confusing The Cross with the War Memorial. The Cross is the name given to the area where High Street, Meeting Lane and Church Street converge. The name has been in use for hundreds of years.

Plan of roads that were built instead
A rough plan of what the road layout eventually became. Of course, no public house or shops materialised.
A 1961 photograph taken at the end of Bridle Road where it would later
join up with Queensway. The sign advertises properties on sale for £1,950


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