S T A M F O R D

Steeped in history

and full of life

S T A M F O R DSteeped in history and full of life

Its unique blend of history, nicheshopping, stunning architectureand an over-riding sense ofcommunity even won the supremecompliment from the SundayTimes newspaper as ‘Britain’s topplace to live’ (March 2013).

Behind such praise lies a hard-working and bustling town with awealth of character.

Local people benefit from thebeauty of Rutland Water to thewest, one of Europe’s largestreservoirs and now a haven forfishing, cycling, sailing and wildlife,and rolling countryside withpicturesque villages all round.

Exciting commercial and housingplans ensure homes and businessopportunities.

Stamford’s stoneheritage has drawnaccolades over thecenturies – andtourists from far and wide.

Stamford has over 600 listed buildings ofmellow limestone and was the UK’s firstconservation town

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n 45 minute rail commute to London fromnearby Peterborough

n Around 90 direct trains a day fromPeterborough (nine between 7-8am)

n A1 trunk road as major north/south artery

n Easy reach of three international airports atStansted and East Midlands/Birmingham

n Leicester to the west, Peterborough to thesouth and Lincoln to the north

Sir Walter Scott described Stamford as ‘thefinest stone town in England’

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A unique treasure

Stamford is a unique treasure trove of provincialEnglish architecture built in the finest stone.

Sited at the south westerly tip of South Kesteven,it was England’s first urban town to gainconservation status in 1967 and its historic fabricsurvives largely unscathed. Town walks, guidedtours and even ghost walks unveil its past.

And now in more modern times it’s the stagefor a fabulous Georgian Festival which recreatesthe bustle and feel of the Georgian period overa weekend-long programme of events.More than 1,000 people live in the villagesimmediately surrounding the town contributing

to a positive mix of industry, services,agriculture and tourism.

The gibbet sign of The George Hotel evokesmemories of highwaymen like Dick Turpin fromthe days of the stagecoach and Daniel Lambertfamously recorded as the country’s fattest manduring Georgian times who tipped the scales at53 stones (337 kg).

Its historic core is a perfect backdrop forbusiness and niche retail alike. It boasts world-class watchmakers, award winning foodproducers, an independent brewery and athriving cafe culture.

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Q U OT E ‘Stamford is a reminder of the days when Britain was hale and hearty’;Sunday Times ‘Best Places to Live in Britain’.

Stamford’s recorded history goesback well over 1,000 years.

In the 13th Century it was one ofthe 10 largest towns in England,complete with a castle, 14churches, two monasticinstitutions and four friaries.

Parliaments met in the town anda tradition of academic learningled to a short-lived university inthe mid 14th century.

The removal of the wool trade toEast Anglia in the 15th Centuryforced the town into decline.

Its fortunes recovered in the late1600’s with improvements to theGreat North Road as everyonewho travelled north passedthrough Stamford and thecoaching trade elevated oldmedieval inns like the George to nationally renowned hostelries.

It ‘s a time that drew prosperousprofessional men and merchantswho built the classical andGeorgian houses which remainthe town’s architectural;backbone.

But the arrival of the railway inthe 1830s bypassing the townsignalled a death blow to thecoaching trade and to Stamford’sfortunes – now happily revived.

A history of commercethrough the ages

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Get connectedAccess to London; business potential in a quality environment

First class connectionsStamford is perfectly placed amidst airports,arterial roads and quality rail links across the UK.A picturesque railway station offers direct linksto Peterborough and trains to London / Leeds,or west to Birmingham and east to Stanstedairport. There are also direct links to Cambridgeand Leicester.

The A1 also offers a direct road link to thecapital and, 20 miles south, access to the A14and the port of Felixstowe or the M1 and M6junctions in central England.

International airports at Stansted, Birmingham,Robin Hood (Doncaster) and East Midlands are

all within easy reach.The area is high on the agenda for BT’s deliveryof superfast broadband - up to 25Mb - to 90per cent of the district by 2015, with aguarantee of at least standard broadband forthe remaining 10 per cent.

n A gateway to the East Midlands andLincolnshire

n Less than a 30 minute commute to nearbyPeterborough

n 90 direct London-Peterborough trains a dayn Easy access to the ports of East Anglian Three international airports within 70 milesn A1 trunk road as major north/south arteryn Direct trains from Stamford to Birmingham

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Our vision for 2021 is to create even more vibrantcommunities throughout South Kesteven wherepeople want to live, work and invest. This includes:

n Thriving and sustainable market towns offeringa better quality of life

n Recognition as a growing vibrant environmentn A place which attracts visitors and businessesn A growing mixed economy offering improved

prosperity and lifestyle

n A healthy and safe environment with improvedtransport links

n Town centres offering something for everyonen A thriving entrepreneurial culture with

increased high value jobsn Good quality housing for alln Capturing, encouraging and retaining

local talent

Vision for the Future

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We know what it takes to grow

Economic development is top of the agenda forthe district with infrastructure to encouragebusiness relocation and growth.

It includes building relationships with thedistrict’s largest employers to understand theirchallenges and future business plans, and helpcreate the environment for them to thrive andgrow - plus establish a local employmentpartnership.

Stamford is home to Cummins Generators, aglobal world-class company and leadingmanufacturer of diesel engines technology.

n Business networking; pro-active events andstakeholder forums

n Enhance land and property databasen Develop on line and face to face business

start-up servicen Establish grow your business package –

online and face to facen Programme of business engagement

opportunities; trade show, property eventsn Organise training events, employment fairs

and business conferences

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Stamford is unusual in havingwhole streets entirely made up ofGeorgian houses, yet vibrant withmodern life.

It’s an architectural legacy whichhas drawn innumerable filmcompanies for classics such asPride and Prejudice andMiddlemarch.

A vibrant Friday street marketepitomises all that’s best aboutmarket towns with stalls onBroad Street and IronmongerStreet which also stretch intoHigh Street. Stamford also stagesa regular farmers’ market offeringproduce traceability and a salesoutlet for local food producers.The town also has charming andbustling alleys that connect mainstreets in the town.

On a daily basis Stamford’s eatinghouses, pubs and food specialityshops make its winding streets avoyage of gastronomic discovery.Elsewhere niche retailers vie withdesigner fashion outlets .Stamford Arts Centre is a thrivingfocal point for arts and cinemaand houses the TouristInformation Centre.

On the streets

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Feel alive

Already voted the best place to live in theUK, Stamford sits proudly in South Kestevenwhich has been named as one of the top 50districts to live in the UK, in the 2013 HalifaxQuality of Life survey.

It was one of only six in the top 50 outsidethe south and was judged across a range offactors from residents' health, lifeexpectancy, earnings, employment, crimerate, weather, traffic flow and broadbandinternet access.

Here are just a few things that make it a great place:

n Delight in a walk along the River Wellandor just relax on the town’s historicMeadows

n Enjoy sailing, climbing, or cycling atnearby Rutland Water which is alsopopular with bird watchers – particularlythose searching for ospreys

n Take guests to the spectacular LandRover Burghley Horse Trials inSeptember, where corporate hospitalityis also available

n Indulge yourself amidst Stamford’suniquely niche shops, from antiques tojewellery and upmarket fashions

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Picture by permission of Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials. Pic by Kit Houghton

Beautiful but relativelyaffordable housing

House prices within the district havetraditionally been extremely affordablecompared to the rest of the UK.

Most of the sales in Stamford over the pastyear were terraced properties which onaverage sold for £234,122. Semi-detachedproperties had an average sold price of£179,396 and detached properties averaged£292,671.

In the past year house prices in Stamfordwere 3% up on the year before and 3%down on 2007 when they averaged at£225,003.

According to the Land Registry (Oct-Dec2012) the average house in South Kestevencost £171,544. This is significantly less thanthe national average of £239,296.

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More details from your local branch of Lloyds TSB

A HOME OF YOUROWN IN SOUTHKESTEVEN WITHA DEPOSIT OFJUST 5%Lloyds TSB and SouthKesteven District Councilhave joined forces to formLocal Lend a Hand whichmakes dreams come true

First time buyers only. Terms and conditions apply

First time buyerscan get on thehousing ladderthanks to a Lend aHand schemeoperated bySouth KestevenDistrict Counciland Lloyds TSB

Welcome distractions

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Stamford has a wealth of attractions on thedoorstep including the beautiful county ofRutland and the delights of Rutland Water andhistoric houses like Grimsthorpe Castle andBurghley House.

The Stamford Shakespeare Company atTolethorpe is one of the finest open air theatresand has a very popular summer season.

Palatial Burghley House , one of the crowningglories of the Tudor era, was built by local manWilliam Cecil, Lord High Treasurer to QueenElizabeth I.

Burghley is a top visitors attraction and hoststhe annual Burghley Land Rover Horse Trials,one of the world’s top events which attractstens of thousands of visitors every autumn.

Education

The district prides itself on its high standard ofeducation facilities and the grammar schoolselection process is alive and well.

Stamford School is one of three schools whichmake up the Stamford endowed schools alongwith Stamford High School for Girls andStamford Junior School.

Queen Eleanor secondary school is now anacademy school and Bourne Grammar is just11 miles away.

Stamford’s New College is the best performingFurther Education college in the East Midlands.It offers A-levels and vocational courses for 16-18 year olds, taking students from Lincolnshire,Rutland, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.

Quotation: “We pride ourselves on the quality ofeducation we provide, with latest figures show weare performing incredibly well. New College Principal: Andrew Patience

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From household retailers to world classmanufacturing, any up and coming business willfind what they are looking for within the district.Our key towns offer the following advantages,each with that distinctly different personality.

Space to grow – surrounded by beautifulcountryside and with a strong growth agenda,all our towns represent a good prospect forbusinesses to want to grow with us.

Support to thrive - dedicated support for

businesses, with the provision of appropriateskills and the necessary investment ininfrastructure required for growth.

Get connected – a market town perfectly placedfor transport links in all key directions andcentres of national business excellence.

Feel alive – Lincolnshire’s fresh-air factor,beautiful countryside, delightful rivers andwoods offer endless opportunities for outdoorrecreation and relaxation. It couldn’t be better.

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South Kesteven District CouncilCouncil OfficesSt. Peter’s Hill

GranthamLincolnshire

NG31 6PZ

t: 01476 40 60 80e: ecodev@southkesteven.gov.ukw: www.southkesteven.gov.uk