Beaumont Leys is a large modern suburb of Leicester, England to the north-west of the city and is widely regarded as one of the most deprived areas in England.[1] Beaumont Leys borders Stocking Farm, Anstey, Mowmacre Hill, New Parks and the satellite town of Glenfield.
History
The area was largely developed from the 1970s onwards, and continues to expand into the surrounding countryside. It includes several large council estates, industrial areas (including the main factory for Walkers), and a large area of modern housing (some of it known as "Anstey Heights").
Facilities
The Beaumont shopping centre is the main facility, being one of the largest shopping areas in the city suburbs, and a large leisure centre, church, library and police station are nearby. Smaller shopping precincts tend to be on the sites of the farms that were on the area before the housing was built. Aside from this there is a number of schools including Babington Community College and Beaumont Leys Secondary School. Which is now a specialised science school, and has also had a CLC (Computer Learning Center) built next to it. Previous plans to rebuild the school have now begun, and it is hoped the school is to be finished being rebuilt by June 2009.
Industry
The area includes a large industrial estate, which includes the main Walkers Crisps factory,Office Depot and Taylor Bloxham, as well as a smaller industrial estate to the South.
Developments
Newer areas of Beaumont Leys include the Anstey Heights towards Castle Hill Park and the village of Anstey as well as the Thurcaston Park housing developments on the North side of Beaumont Leys and Bradgate Heights on the land surrounded by Glenfield, Anstey and Beaumont Leys.
Crime
Beaumont Leys has one of the highest crime rates per person of the whole Leicester City area. This is reflected in the recent crime stats for between April 2007 and January 2008. The area experienced 6264 reported crimes and 1854 detected crimes.[2]
References
- ^ Lead Neighbourhood Summary
- ^ link