Building works started at the end of June 2011 on Phase 1 of Cranbrook and in that first year the main road, roundabouts, footpaths, cycle ways and low-carbon district heating pipes were completed. The homes are being constructed by a number of different house builders and in a range of house types to meet the needs of local families. The first of Cranbrook’s residents moved in in August 2012 and there has been a steady flow of interested home hunters since. It is currently estimated that Cranbrook will house up to 28,000 residents by 2031.
Community infrastructure has been expanding ever since the first building works began: The first primary school, St. Martin’s C of E Primary School, opened its door to pupils in September 2012; a bus service for Cranbrook started in May 2013, the Younghayes Centre, a building for community use, opened in October 2013; the GP surgery opened in April 2015, the secondary school, the Cranbrook Education Campus, opened in September 2015 and the new Cranbrook railway station opened in December 2015.