Info for visitors inc “about our community”
Drakelow is a parish with a rich history and one in which people have lived for hundreds of years and after its role for many years in providing electrical power for our country through the Drakelow Power Station it is now being redeveloped to become one of the largest population centres in South Derbyshire. The Parish Boundary Map can be viewed here [Link please].
Situated to the south-east of Burton, Drakelow is becoming a popular residential area, essentially occupying a rural location in that it over-looks meadows, woodland and the River Trent but is also well placed for easy access to the two closest towns of Burton and Swadlincote.
With the A511 and the A444 running nearby, as well as the A38 and A50 only a few miles away, it offers accessible routes to local motorways such as the M1, M5 and M42. The local road network means that you can visit places such as Derby, Nottingham, Lichfield, Birmingham, Leicester, and Stoke on Trent all within an hour.
Drakelow is situated in a lovely rural corner of Derbyshire on the banks of the Trent, bordered by Staffordshire. There were only a handful of residents in the Parish until about 5 years ago. Then a series of Housing Developments took place. There are now about 650 residents but in the next 7/8 years the population is predicted to reach 6500+ when a further 2000 houses are built but even then the majority of our area will remain rural.
Drakelow has a long history, first said to be recorded in AD942. More recently the now, long lost, Drakelow Hall was the home of the Gresley family. Only the stable block and walled garden survives and the current developers at Dracan Park have plans to restore the facilities for public use. More of the history can be found on the relevant web page and also at http://www.burton-on-trent.org.uk/category/nearby/drakelow/drakelow-general
The Planning Permission for the 2000 home Dracan Development also includes the construction of a shopping area and a primary school. The latter is currently predicted to open in September 2024. Major shopping facilities nearby including large supermarkets can be found in Swadlincote and in Burton on Trent.
Drakelow offers the best of both worlds; it is well placed to reach local towns, cities, and amenities, yet, with its location within the National Forest, you will never be far away from stunning woodland and rolling fields. One of the major attractions of the National Forrest, Rosliston Woods, lies within two miles and all the other attractions of the Forest are within easy reach.
Nearby Burton on Trent provides direct rail services to Derby, Nottingham, Tamworth, and Birmingham, as well as many other locations across the country, so you can access many places nationwide without taking the car. The potential re-opened railway between Burton and Leicester runs through the parish and a railway station is planned for Drakelow when this open and it will provide further railway routes to Ashby de la Zouch, Coalville, and Leicester. The bus network ensures you can reach other local areas easily too, with regular route services to be introduced from Drakelow to Burton and Swadlincote.
