RUGBY’S industrial and sporting heritage has inspired names on a new £22million housing development.
Rugby Borough Council has rubber-stamped the name of the new road serving the Biart Place site and the names of the development’s four apartment blocks.
Navigation Way has been chosen as the name for the new road, celebrating the pivotal role the railway and canal networks played in Rugby’s rapid industrial growth in the 19th century.
The name was suggested by councillors Sam Edwards, Neil Sandison and Tricia Trimble – members for Eastlands Ward, the location of the development.
Working with Willmott Dixon, the construction company the council has partnered with, the council invited pupils from Avon Park School to suggest names for the development’s apartment blocks.
Pupils took inspiration from Rugby’s iconic status as the birthplace of the oval ball game for the suggested names – Clayton House, Davenport House, Sherrard House and Lindon House.
John Clayton, Alfred Davenport and Charles Sherrard were all pupils at Rugby School who played for England against Scotland on March 27 1871 – the first ever rugby international.
Lindon House commemorates the work of Rugby leathermaker Richard Lindon, who manufactured the first rugby footballs at his shop in Lawrence Sheriff Street before paving the way for the modern rugby football by designing the first ball with four leather panels, a rubber bladder and an air pump.
Willmott Dixon started work on site in December, with the development set to include 60 one and two-bedroomed flats, 20 maisonettes and 20 two, three and four-bedroomed houses.
RBC’s homes spokesperson Coun Claire Edwards said: “Naming the new development marks another significant step towards delivering this ambitious project and allows Willmott Dixon to make the necessary applications to utility companies so the new homes can be connected on completion.
“The development remains on schedule to be completed in 2026, adding 100 modern, energy efficient homes to the council’s housing stock.”
Councillors first approved plans to develop the site nearly six years ago after structural surveys revealed both of Biart Place’s tower blocks – which comprised 124 one and two-bedroomed flats – were beyond economic repair.
