‘Bold vision’: Council puts forward 20-year Northampton plan
A total of 11 priority development sites are included in an updated Northampton town centre masterplan due to go before councillors this week.
The 2026 “Northampton Forward” proposals are designed to set the direction of travel for Northamptonshire’s county town for the next two decades, and sets out proposals to improve connections between the town centre and surrounding communities.
An existing town centre retail park on Towcester Road could be redeveloped as a residential neighbourhood with a “vibrant” riverside frontage – part of wider plans to turn the banks of the River Nene into a waterfront destination.
Plans for the first five years of the plan include a number of quick wins for the authority, including phased delivery of improvements planned for the railway station gateway, the regeneration of a disused railway line corridor snaking through the town, and the riverside proposals.
The updated framework is set to build upon the authority’s 2019 masterplan, which it says has attracted more than £500m of regeneration activity in Northampton town centre, including projects such as ECF’s 1,200-home Greyfriars scheme, and Capital&Centric’s redevelopment of two vacant department stores on Abingdon Street.
A report set to go before West Northamptonshire Council’s cabinet on 10 November says the plans will require “sustained commitment”, cross-sector collaboration, and targeted investment over a period of more than 20 years, with plans for a dedicated “delivery board” to guide progress on the schemes.
“Without a transformational approach to addressing the challenges within the town centre it will continue to face further decline as the improvements made so far cannot be considered in isolation,” it said.
“The delivery of this bold vision for Northampton will be completed in stages with detailed analysis of the opportunities and constraints associated with each of the sites. Each opportunity area will undergo detailed design, cost and commercial feasibility to test the viability of the proposals.”
Development opportunities in the document include:
- St James End – A “revitalised” western gateway into Northampton, including the creation of a green corridor linking the station to Sixfields and Franklin’s Gardens, alongside enhanced pedestrian and cycle routes.
- Station Gateway – A high-quality arrival experience that reflects Northampton’s identity and heritage, including a new station square to provide a clear and welcoming entry point, supported by improved bus facilities, enhanced walking and cycling links, and better
connections into the town centre. - All Saints Quarter – Proposals include the removal of parking, introduction of new planting and seating, and improved connections to Market Square. The overall ambition is to create a vibrant, flexible and attractive environment that supports community life, public gatherings and a stronger town centre experience.
- The Ridings & Albert Place – A key location for a renewed mixed-use neighbourhood that supports both daytime and evening activity. The proposals focus on creating new courtyards, mews streets and pedestrian connections linking Abington Street to the cultural
quarter. - Boot & Shoe Quarter – building on Northampton’s historic association with the footwear industry, positioning the area as a distinctive cultural and creative destination. The reuse and enhancement of historic buildings, including factory sites, to support high-quality retail, cultural and visitor focused uses.
- St Edmunds – The St Edmunds site focuses on delivering a new residential-led neighbourhood that responds to
the surrounding conservation area. - Greyfriars & Horsemarket – A “major opportunity” to reconnect fragmented parts of the town centre by
reconfiguring infrastructure and improving pedestrian movement, building on the emerging Greyfriars redevelopment. - Commercial Street & Freeschool Street – A new mixed-use neighbourhood that supports residential, educational and employment uses, with stronger links to the University and other institutions.
- Cattlemarket – A “significant regeneration opportunity” with potential for large-scale mixed-use development. Proposals include new residential communities, commercial uses and improved public realm, alongside enhanced connections to surrounding areas.
- Nene Riverside – The Nene Riverside proposal seeks to transform the river corridor into a vibrant leisure and
cultural destination. - Towcester Road – Towcester Road is proposed as a new mixed-use urban extension that reconnects the town
centre to the river and surrounding areas.
The document has been put together by Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios with support from Planit Landscape Architects and Civic Engineers, alongside community engagement specialists Deetu and commercial agents Cushman and Wakefield.
The Northampton Town Centre Masterplan will go before cabinet at West Northamptonshire Council on Tuesday, 10 November, at 6pm.
