Local Guide
Drakelow, Derbyshire
A practical guide to the village, the growing community and what’s nearby
Drakelow is a fast-growing parish in South Derbyshire, south-east of Burton-on-Trent and beside the River Trent. Once a small rural settlement and later home to Drakelow Power Station, the area is now changing rapidly as new homes and community infrastructure are built.
Drakelow lies on the Derbyshire side of the River Trent, immediately south-east of Burton-on-Trent and within South Derbyshire. Despite its proximity to Burton and Swadlincote, much of the parish remains rural, with meadows, woodland and riverside countryside close by.
The A511 and A444 are nearby, with the A38 and A50 also within easy reach. Burton-on-Trent provides the nearest mainline railway station, while local bus services connect the area with Burton and Swadlincote.
Modern Drakelow combines the older rural parish with a rapidly expanding residential community. The former power station site is being redeveloped as Drakelow Park, one of South Derbyshire’s major housing sites. South Derbyshire District Council’s April 2026 housing position paper records 1,082 homes completed at Drakelow Park by 31 March 2026, against an allocation of up to 2,239 homes.
That growth is bringing new infrastructure too, including a primary school, local-centre uses, open space and transport improvements. Because plans and delivery dates change, Drakelow Hub keeps the detailed information on a separate page that can be updated as the development progresses.
Follow the Drakelow development →
Drakelow has a much longer history than its new housing suggests. The parish council records Drakelow as being mentioned as far back as AD 942. For centuries it was a small rural settlement associated with Drakelow Hall, the historic home of the Gresley family; the hall itself has gone, although surviving historic structures include the stable block and walled garden.
In the twentieth century the area became widely known for Drakelow Power Station. After electricity generation ended and the station was demolished, its large brownfield site became the focus of the present-day Drakelow Park redevelopment. The result is an unusual local story: an old rural parish, an industrial landmark and now a substantial new community occupying the same landscape.
Drakelow’s location gives residents access to the shops, services and leisure facilities of Burton and Swadlincote while remaining close to countryside and the National Forest. The new development is intended to add more facilities within Drakelow itself as the population grows.
Browse local businesses → See what’s on →
Drakelow is well placed for Burton-on-Trent and Swadlincote, with road connections towards the A38, A50 and the wider Midlands. Major transport infrastructure connected with the development includes the Walton-on-Trent bypass and new River Trent crossing. For day-to-day journeys, Drakelow Hub brings together useful travel and road information in one place.
Drakelow sits close to the National Forest and a wide choice of walks, woodland and family attractions. Rosliston Forestry Centre is only a short distance away, while Burton, Swadlincote and the wider National Forest provide plenty more to explore.
Nature & outdoors → Family events & days out →
For council decisions and parish matters, use Drakelow Parish Council. Planning applications and official development documents are available from South Derbyshire District Council. Drakelow Hub is an independent community guide and is not a council website.
Sources: Drakelow Parish Council and South Derbyshire District Council. Development figures checked against the council’s April 2026 Housing Position Paper. This guide will change as Drakelow grows. Spotted something out of date or missing? Let us know.