Hampton, Peterborough facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Hampton |
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 Hampton
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| Unitary authority |
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| Ceremonial county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | Peterborough |
| Postcode district | PE7 |
| Dialling code | 01733 |
| EU Parliament | East of England |
| UK Parliament |
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Hampton is a growing community located south of Peterborough in Cambridgeshire, England. It's a modern area that has been built up over the past few decades.
Contents
Exploring Hampton's Neighbourhoods
Hampton is made up of several distinct areas, each with its own feel. The first two parts to be finished were Hampton Hargate and Hampton Vale.
Hampton Hargate and Hampton Vale
Hampton Hargate has about 1,700 homes, and Hampton Vale has around 1,900 homes. Each of these neighbourhoods has its own local centre. These centres include shops, community buildings, and a primary school for local kids.
Future Growth in Hampton
Work is still happening on a third neighbourhood called Hempsted. Plans are also being made for a fourth area, simply called The Hamptons. Like the other parts of Hampton, this new area will have its own unique style.
Hampton's Central Area
Right next to these neighbourhoods is Hampton's main central area. This is where you'll find the Serpentine Green shopping centre. It's also home to Hampton College, which has both secondary and primary schools. There are also two business parks here, Cygnet Park and Kingston Park.
Hampton's Big Picture
Eventually, Hampton will have up to 8,500 new homes. These homes will be spread across its four main areas. The plan also includes more schools, local centres, and fun places for leisure. Plus, there will be business and shopping areas that will create over 12,000 jobs. Building in Hampton started in 1996 and is expected to continue until at least 2023.
Homes in Hampton
Since the first families moved into Holly Walk in Hampton Hargate in 1997, more than 5,000 new homes have been built. Homes have been built at a fast pace, sometimes up to 500 a year. Over 30 different home builders and housing groups have worked on projects here. This includes about 900 affordable homes, which are designed to be easier for people to buy or rent.
Special Home Projects
Some special home projects have taken place in Hampton. For example, a "zero carbon house" was built, which means it produces very little carbon pollution. There have also been "self-build" projects. These allow people to design and build their own homes, which is a unique way to create a personalised living space.
Schools in Hampton
The schools in Hampton have been very successful and have grown quickly.
Primary Schools
Hampton Hargate Primary School first opened in 2000. It started with enough space for one class per year group. Because so many children needed places, it was expanded in 2002 and again in 2012. Now, it can take three classes for each year group.
Hampton Vale Primary School opened in 2004. It also started small but was expanded in 2002 and 2012 to become a three-form entry school. A third primary school opened in 2013 on the Hampton College campus. Hampton Lakes Primary School then opened in 2020.
Secondary Schools
Hampton College is a secondary school built to serve the Hampton area. It opened in September 2005 for students in years 7 and 8. By 2008, it accepted students from year 7 to year 11. The school also added a sixth form, which offers courses for older students.
Hampton College has a cool outdoor amphitheatre and is built around a central courtyard. In the evenings, the school is used by different groups and for adult learning classes. It is hoped that the school will become a central part of the Hampton community. Ofsted, which inspects schools in England, rated Hampton College as 'outstanding'. This means it's one of the best schools in the country.
Hampton Gardens Secondary School also opened in 2017, providing even more options for older students in the area.
Hampton's Economy
Hampton has a strong economy, meaning there are many jobs available for the people who live there. For every home in Hampton, there are about 1.25 jobs. The total value of businesses in Hampton is now more than £20 million.
Major Companies in Hampton
Many well-known companies have large distribution centres in Kingston Park, Hampton. These include IKEA, Debenhams, and Prologis. Other big names with operations here are News International, Kiddicare, GKL Northern, and Volvo. Charities like Deafblind UK and Mencap also have their main offices in Hampton.
Employment Rates
A survey from 2011 showed that the Orton with Hampton area has a very high number of employed people in Peterborough. About 76.6% of people aged 16 to 74 living here have jobs.
Serpentine Green Shopping Centre
Hampton has a large shopping centre called Serpentine Green. It first opened in 1999.
Shops and Services
Serpentine Green is home to a big Tesco Extra supermarket. You can also find popular stores like Boots, Costa Coffee, CEX, and many other well-known shops. The shopping centre is located just off the A15 road and offers free parking for visitors.
Community Life in Hampton
Hampton has several places where people can gather and take part in community activities.
Community Centres
There are currently two community centres in Hampton. One is located next to Hampton Hargate Primary School. The second one opened in 2011 at the Hampton Vale local centre. These centres are important places for local events and groups.
Sports and Activities
Another community facility is Active Hampton. This is used by the Hampton Football Club, which has grown very large. The club now has 23 different teams for both girls and boys, showing how popular sports are in the area.
Hampton's Environment
Hampton is known for how well it has blended new buildings with the natural landscape. Natural England, an organisation that protects nature, has praised Hampton as a great example of this.
Green Spaces and Wildlife
The main developers of Hampton, O&H Properties, promised to keep at least 50% of the area as open space. They have planted around 110,000 trees, which helps create a green environment.
Charities like Froglife, The Wildlife Trust, and Buglife have helped design the open spaces. This includes the Hampton Nature Reserve, which is a very important area for wildlife. It's even called a Site of Special Scientific Interest because of its unique nature.
Hampton Nature Reserve
The Hampton Nature Reserve is famous for having the largest population of Great Crested Newts in Europe. These special amphibians are protected, and the reserve is managed by the charity Froglife.
Besides newts, the reserve is also home to many other creatures. You can find at least 27 different types of butterflies, 18 types of dragonflies, and 120 types of water beetles there. It's a fantastic place to observe nature.
Cycleways
Hampton also has three miles of cycle paths that run through its southern section. These paths are part of Peterborough's 50-mile Green Wheel route, which is a network of paths that goes all around the city.
Arts in Hampton
Hampton has also invested in art to make the area more interesting. A competition was held for a sculpture, with a prize of £50,000.
The Noon Vessel Sculpture
The artist David Nash (artist) was chosen to create a five-piece sculpture called The Noon Vessel. This artwork is located in the courtyard of Hampton College. It's designed to create interesting shadows as the sun moves across the sky throughout the day.
Hampton's History
The area where Hampton is built used to be old brick fields. This means it was a place where clay was dug up to make bricks.
Ancient Brick Making
The Ancient Romans were the first people to work with the special clay found here, called Oxford clay. By the 1900s, this area became one of the most important places in the UK for making bricks. Bricks from this region were often called "flettons," named after the nearby town of Fletton. This term later became a general name for a type of brick.
