Developers hand in plans to regenerate town centre

Two planning applications have been submitted for a "landmark" regeneration project that could "reimagine" a town centre, developers said.

English Cities Fund (ECF) said its plans for Greyfriars, Northampton, an old bus station that was demolished over a decade ago, and the listed Corn Exchange building, were now with West Northamptonshire Council.

The site could include 1,200 homes and a mixture of leisure and community places, the developer added.

It said the first application could be "developed immediately" and will include 103 new homes on the site of Upper Mounts and Newlands car parks, which were expected to be built by 2029.

ECF is a joint venture between the government's Homes England and the private firms Legal & General and Muse.

A spokesperson for ECF said the plans include the regeneration of the Grade II listed 19th Century Corn Exchange, which was purchased by the former Conservative-led authority.

It has stood empty for more than a decade and could be transformed into an art and performance space, as first reported in the Chronicle & Echo.

Glyn Mutton, the development director at ECF, said it was an "exceptional opportunity to reimagine a major part of Northampton's town centre, to create a neighbourhood that people will enjoy for generations".

He hoped it would "bring new life, activity and energy to this important place, with new homes, workplaces and public spaces that will make a tangible difference to the town".

"Our ambition is to turn a long-underused area into a welcoming, well-connected place that strengthens links to the centre and gives people more reasons to visit this part of town."

The brownfield town centre site is where the Greyfriars bus station, labelled "the mouth of hell", was demolished in 2015, and since then it has been vacant.

Kamala Guliyeva, a Reform UK councillor and cabinet member for local economy, culture and leisure at West Northamptonshire Council, said it was a "major milestone" that could deliver "one of the UK's most significant town centre regeneration opportunities".

"Greyfriars will play a key role in supporting the long-term growth and prosperity of west Northamptonshire, helping to attract investment, increase footfall, support local businesses and strengthen Northampton's position as a thriving place to live, work, visit and do business," she added.

ECF said over the next few months the authority would look at the applications and a decision was expected early next year.

"If consented, the first new homes are expected to be completed and ready for occupation in 2029", it added.

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