Elvetham Heath


Elvetham Heath is a residential area and civil parish, containing around 2000 homes on a site, just outside the north western boundary of the town of Fleet in the English county of Hampshire. Construction of Elvetham Heath began in the summer of 1999 and ended in June 2008. The population of the civil parish at the 2011 Census was 5,183.

Location

Elvetham Heath was built on reclaimed pine plantation/heathland between the M3 motorway and the London-Southampton railway line, north of Fleet town centre. Formerly known as Railroad Heath, it previously belonged to the local Calthorpe Estate.
Elvetham Heath serves as a commuter area to local towns; Basingstoke some to the west, Reading is to the north and London is to the northeast. The development is located precisely midway between Southampton and London. It is adjacent to the M3 motorway, from the M4, and from the M25. Fleet railway station is approximately from the centre of the development.

Nature reserve

The district has a Local Nature Reserve, Elvetham Heath LNR. It is managed by Hart District Council, with the intent to move it back to typical heathland, with some marsh areas. The area supports species including slowworms, lizards, and dragonflies. Rare breed cattle graze in the nature reserve during the summer and autumn.