Development Phase Two
The plan below shows phase two of the development.
The areas on the development have been named 'St Cuthbert's View' and 'St
Bede's Close.'
The second phase of the development
is due to start September 2005 with the removal of the remaining fifty static
vans and the introduction of a further thirty-three log cabin units.
As the summer season is coming to an end we have the
time to prepare the site for the second phase of the development to begin. The
remaining static vans will be scrapped over the coming weeks and the area
cleared in preparation for the work to begin.
Due to circumstances beyond our control the work on
phase two of the development has been postponed as Metcalfe's are not able to come
on site to start work until January 2006.
With work due to start in the coming week there is
growing excitement on the park. The snow over the holiday period really was
beautiful but we were all pleased to see it disappear ready for the works to start.
Work has started in earnest over the last week and
the site has been cleared and levelled.
Even at this earliest of stages of the development
the potential can be seen and the view that will be seen from the new homes is
already stunning.
The men from Metcalfe's are working twelve hour
shifts and the effort being put in is easy to see with a dramatic change to the
landscape.
The men from Metcalfe's are working twelve hour
shifts and the effort being put in is easy to see with a dramatic change to the
landscape.
Individual bases are well on the way to being marked
out and placed with the men working at full stretch to get the work done.
All bases are now cut out and trenches are now being
dug for the services.
John and Moxy (on-site supervisor) are laying the
pipes for the sewerage system.
The photograph above shows the sewerage pipes and an
inspection chamber.
Jack, one of Metcalfe’s most experienced JCB
operator takes a quick break for a photo shoot!
An overview looking down over the new developments
from Mr & Mrs Johnson’s plot.
Jamie who worked on phase one of the development has
joined the lads and they are now busy installing all of the services to the
individual plots.
Many of the plots on the second phase are now complete
with all plots to be completed in the coming week. Three plots are completed
each day in stages. Jamie and John are shown here laying a waterproof membrane
across the plot.
Hardcore is laid over the membrane.
The hardcore is rolled and laser levelled to ensure a
perfect base for the top coat of concrete which is then added.
This picture shows plots 7, 6, 5 and 4 St
Cuthbert’s View giving a good idea of the tiered nature of the plots
which will ensure all have nice views and are not overlooked.
The main toilet block on the park which served the
static caravans is no longer in use and has been demolished to improve the
views for the new plots and to create more parking spaces.
The central part of the toilet block which has serves
as a launderette will still operate (although all lodges will have their own
washing facilities.) The launderette will be cladded with Extrudawood to help
it blend better with the surrounding area.
All concrete bays are now completed with services
installed and ready to service the new homes.
This photograph gives some idea as to why we have
named part of the second phase ‘St Cuthbert’s View’ although
the photographs can’t do the view justice it really gives you an idea of
what the outlook the homes will have.
Groundwork and landscaping around the individual
bases has also been completed ready for seeding and planting. Individual car
park bays for each lodge have also been made ready.
Over the next two weeks the roads throughout the park
will be completed, not only through phase two of the development but also
throughout phase one and the roads throughout the existing park will all be
replaced. The men from Metcalfe’s will then be leaving us for the last
time, they really have done a super job and we have been very impressed with
their friendly, professional service.
Although each plot will have at least one private
parking bay there will be extra parking facilities available which are
currently being prepared at the top and bottom on the development.
Existing roads around the park have this week been
removed and in places are being widened.
Individual pitches for touring caravans are being
installed to provide hard standing for all pitches and all roads are being
replaced and resurfaced.
Tarmac is being laid although it is a bit of a slow
process…especially with all of the rain we have been having!
Main roads are being surfaced first and then
individual car park bays will also be coated.
Excess soil is being made into a bund at the top of
the park, trees will be planted on the mound at the end of the year and they
will provide a dual purpose of a windbreak and also ensuring that no sign of
the park can be seen from the road.
A roundabout has been made at the top of St
Cuthbert’s view to accommodate an existing oak tree, as with the rest of
the development we have tried in all cases to work with nature and include
natural features in the design and layout of the park wherever possible.
A view over the
All at Finchale were really sad this week as we start
to say goodbye to the lads from Metcalfe’s. Jamie, Chris, Jack and Moxy
(Stephen) shown in the photo above with Eric (owner) This week we said goodbye
to Jack and he even missed our open day and barbeque as he has already started
a new job in Manchester.
Our open event was a great success this week and we
had visitors from all over the country including Professor David Bellamy. For
more information on our open day please see our Open day page.
All ground work on phase two of the development is
now complete, unfortunately we have had to say goodbye to Moxy, Chris and Jamie
the last of the boys from Metcalfe’s. On behalf of everyone at the park
we would like to wish them all the best with their new venture and thank them
for their friendly professional service. They will all be missed.
The second phase of the development is now complete
and plots are ready to be sold as all plots on phase one have now been sold.
Robert, who is in charge of landscaping on the park
has been preparing the ground around St Cuthbert’s View and St
Bede’s Close and planting grass seed. The sunshine and showers we have
been experiencing over the past few weeks have provided perfect growing
conditions and the new grass has already started to shoot through.
The laundry which has been left on the park for the
use of residents living in the caravans and visiting touring caravans is
currently being clad with Extrudawood to
help it blend more with the homes.
These aerial photographs taken by Keith Taylor on the
1st December 2006 show the outline of the second phase of the
development.
The long awaited show home that will be sited on
phase two of the development will be arriving on the park on the 2nd
February and will be ready to view the following week. Full internal details
will be added to the for sale page as soon as
possible.
A new page will be started to chart our further
progression on phase two of our development and also phase three which id due
to start soon. Please click on the hyperlinks for more information or you can
access these links from the development page.
Last updated - 31st January 2007
For more information on the Park, our new development
and availability of residential plots
please call Ann on 0191 3866528 or E-mail: godricawatson@hotmail.com