ECF (formerly English Cities Fund) has agreed terms to bring forward the regeneration of Greyfriars in Northampton town centre.
Greyfriars covers 14 acres of Northampton town centre; it includes the former Greyfriars Bus Station, which was demolished in 2015, as well as the Mayorhold and Victoria Street car parks, Corn Exchange, Belgrave House, and East and West Islands.
ECF, a joint venture between Legal & General, Homes England and Muse, has already been working with West Northamptonshire Council to explore planning, delivery, and funding for Greyfriars. With a development agreement now in place, ECF will work together with the council to further develop the masterplan and bring forward the development.
The vision seeks to bring back into active use a derelict area of the town centre, with the Corn Exchange becoming a new leisure destination and Belgrave House providing opportunities for community and meanwhile uses. There will also be new homes, alongside shops, cafes and restaurants.
Cllr James Petter, cabinet member for local economy, culture and leisure, said: 鈥淭his is fantastic news for the project which will make such a profound difference to the environment and offer in Northampton town centre. Our partnership with the English Cities Fund is a real coup, and testament to the hard work and ambition of our teams at WNC.
鈥淭he plans being delivered respond directly to feedback from the public and will help unlock a site which has been sitting derelict for around a decade. Over the coming months we will be engaging with the community to help shape the approach, before a planning application can be submitted.鈥�
ECF chair Sir Michael Lyons said: 鈥淓ntering a development agreement will enable us to take the next important step in the delivery of this important opportunity. It鈥檚 a chance to enhance Northampton town centre with new homes, workspaces, retail, culture, and public spaces. Together, we will move at pace to deliver a masterplan proposal which delivers against this opportunity.鈥�
Greyfriars is not the only part of Northampton that has the developers in. West Northamptonshire Council has another regeneration specialist, Cityheart, working up plans for a 拢130m development of a couple of sites next to the town鈥檚 railway station. [See previous report here.]
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