Area Guide: The New Greens area of St Albans

The New Greens estate was built as part of the government’s expansion policy after World War II.

The parade of shops on High Oaks offers a range of useful amenities. These include a Co-Op, a newsagents, a fancy dress and dancewear shop, a florist, a hairdresser, a bakers, a Chinese/fish and chip shop and an Indian takeaway. Airport Cars, a popular taxi company to/from the nearby airports, is also based in this suburb.

Schools

There are two schools in New Greens - Margaret Wix Primary School and Townsend Church of England School, for ages 11-18. Townsend is open to everyone and is not strict about attendees being church-goers.

Margaret Wix educates pupils aged from four to 11, and also has a 30-place nursery class that runs every morning. Both schools were rated ‘good’ by Ofsted at their last inspection.

Other schools serving the New Greens area include Garden Fields JMI on nearby Townsend Drive. Rated ‘good’ by Ofsted, it is in the process of expanding to a three-form entry and will have a maximum of 630 pupils on roll by 2021, making it the biggest primary school in St Albans.

The ever-popular St Albans Girls’ School (STAGs) is just across Harpenden Road, on Sandridgebury Lane, and was rated ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted in 2013.

Church

Christ Church on High Oaks is an all-age religious community. They say “in an era of fractured and dysfunctional relationships we want to be distinctive giving light and hope to all we are in contact with”. Their core values are to be generous in all things (living together out of the desire to give and serve), turning crises into opportunity (not to become discouraged, disillusioned or sceptical), to champion individual and corporate prayer and encouragement towards acts of service.

Sport

The St Albans Centurions Rugby League team play their home games from Toulmin Drive. The first team play in the Rugby League East League, but the ground also hosts teams starting from under nines upwards. The area of woodland adjacent to the playing fields is popular with dog walkers.

New Greens Club also hosts two darts teams that compete in the local league

The St Albans London Colney ABA is a local boxing club that offers classes for all age groups and is based on Toulin Drive. It’s open to people of all boxing abilities and curious aspiring boxers are encouraged to pop down and observe, in order to get a feel for the sport. They offer a free introductory session for juniors (10-21 year olds).

Social

New Greens Club on High Oaks hosts local entertainment for all ages, including live music, quizzes and seasonal kids’ parties to get families in the festive spirit. The club is also host to Slimming World a member’s only weight loss support group.