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13 December 2023
Last week the regeneration of Northampton Town Centre took an exciting step forward. West Northamptonshire Council (WNC) launched the first stage of engagement to ask the community to help shape the future and revamp the vacant Greyfriars site.
One week into the engagement, more than 800 people have shared their views on the emerging vision. They have shared their ideas on the future of the area, ideas for temporary uses of the site while it is being developed, and many personal memories of Greyfriars in past years.
The 14 acre area includes the former bus station site, East and West Island, Mayorhold Multistorey Car Park, Belgrave House, Corn Exchange and Victoria Street Car Park.
Residents, visitors, businesses, and community organisations are being asked to provide their ideas for the future of this area and celebrate the heritage of the site through sharing their memories of Greyfriars from years gone by.
Feedback so far indicates that culture and craft should be at the heart of Greyfriars, with hundreds of ideas given about what form this could take. Some examples given include having workshops to rent, craft studios, music venues, independent retail space, and places for new artists and talent to start up.
Comments also suggest that it would be beneficial to have different generations living at Greyfriars, with multi-generational living including a mix of build-to-rent, build-to-buy, later living and student accommodation.
Landscaped park spaces, where people can gather, sit and relax are important to many who have responded to the survey so far. Play and playfulness form a core part of the vision. Hundreds of ideas have been shared about what this could look like, from interactive water features, art trails and outdoor games areas, to nature trails, outdoor gym equipment and play areas for children.
Walking and cycling routes, getting around the area, and making Emporium Way more inviting are key parts of the future of Greyfriars. The vast majority of respondents agree this is a priority within any suggested improvements in the area, to make it easier for people to get to Greyfriars. Some of these ideas include better lighting and signage, dedicated cycle routes and safer pedestrian access.
The online engagement launched on Tuesday, 5 December and will run through until Sunday, 7 January. Visit ampnorthampton.com to view the emerging vision to amplify the area and have your say.
Greyfriars is the largest brownfield opportunity within West Northamptonshire and represents a significant opportunity to deliver transformative change for the town. The site boasts a prime location at the heart of town, next to the ongoing transformation of the historic Market Square and redevelopment of the former Marks and Spencer’s and BHS units. The central location provides a unique opportunity to transform this part of the town centre and have a positive impact on the wider area.
WNC is working with consultation experts, Deetu and architects, Studio Egret West to develop the engagement and proposed plans for the future scheme. The emerging vision includes new high-quality homes offering multi-generational living, dedicated community space, a new park as well as exploring where commercial and leisure uses could be developed. A core element of the proposals is to improve connectivity within the surrounding area and provide enhanced walking and cycling.
The initial feedback collated from the first stage of engagement will be considered by WNC and a highly experienced multi-disciplinary team of architects, transport and commercial experts, to develop a vision by spring 2024 and launch a second stage of engagement.
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12 December 2023
A house in Towcester has been issued with a closure order following concerns around drug dealing and anti-social behaviour from members of the public.
Reports from local residents highlighted that the council-owned property, located in Caernarvon Close, was being used for the supply and use of drugs by the occupier and his associates and attracting persistent illicit behaviour, causing the community a high level of alarm and distress.
Last week (7 December), Northamptonshire Police and West Northamptonshire Council’s (WNC) Anti-Social Behaviour team successfully obtained a closure order to shut down the property under Part 4 of the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014.
The council and the police worked with Grand Union Housing Group to gather the evidence needed to obtain the closure order at Northampton Magistrates Court.
The property will be secured and boarded to allow only Grand Union Housing and emergency services staff authorisation to enter. Any unauthorised person who enters the property will be committing a criminal offence.
Anti-social behaviour can have a devastating impact on the lives of victims and as a council we are committed to tackling the growing challenges around this crime and creating safer communities.Cllr David Smith, WNC’s Cabinet Member for Community Safety and Engagement, and Regulatory ServicesThanks to a partnership effort we have managed to obtain this closure order and I hope it demonstrates that we are passionate about listening to residents and acting on the things that are concerning them.
We strongly urge people not to suffer in silence if they experience anti-social behaviour and to report all incidents to our anti-social behaviour team via our website, or to the police if people feel that they are at immediate risk or in danger.
Anti-social behaviour can be reported to our anti-social behaviour team on the WNC website.
Closure orders last for a period of 3 months and can be extended further if necessary. They are used when other approaches to tackling anti-social behaviour have been unsuccessful and aim to protect residents living in the neighbourhood by preventing criminal behaviour taking place in or around a property.
We don’t underestimate the impact such problem properties can have on those around them, and we rely on information from our communities and partners to get the evidence needed to secure closure orders like this.PC Jim King, Towcester Neighbourhood Policing TeamThose using this address have caused a repeated nuisance to the community here, through general noise and loud music, to the smell of drug use and constant comings and goings.
It has been a long process to get to this point and finally be able to put a stop to the behaviour associated with this property, but it has been well worth it.
When we were placing details of the closure order on the property earlier this week a passer-by approached us and asked what we were doing.Sergeant Wyn HughesWhen we explained the closure order and what it would mean, this person’s relief was visible and they became quite emotional as they told us ‘it has been hell’. That sort of response is humbling to see and is exactly why partnership work like this is so important.
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12 December 2023
Regeneration of the Market Square reached an important milestone as the first bespoke market stalls were delivered and installed.
The first four of the new 18 bespoke market stalls arrived in Northampton on Tuesday 4 December, and the rest to be completed by spring 2024. The design, cladding and colours of the stalls elegantly compliment the surrounding rich heritage of Northampton’s Market Square.
These stalls are a bespoke design with unique features, designed specifically for the needs of the Northampton Market traders. They are made of heavy-duty steel frames with robust cladding, which provides a sustainable and robust product. They include automated shutters which provide customers with shelter when up and security for traders when closed; this high level of security was requested by traders, so they are able to securely leave their produce in the units.
Although there are different types of units – some with a counter, some with a shop front and others that are fully open – all stalls can be fitted to the needs of individual traders, have space for their branding and signage and have access to utilities such as power, lighting and water. There will also be semi-permanent stalls in the Market Square to provide a mix of options for traders with different needs and encourage a greater variety of products and services for customers.
The market stalls have been installed, this will allow the supporting infrastructure and paving surrounding these to progress. Traders, who have been involved with in the design of the stalls, will have an opportunity to visit them in the new year.
I am thrilled to see the first of Northampton’s new market stalls being delivered. Working closely with our partners Stepnell, it is great to see the project progress and reach important milestones such as this.Councillor Daniel Lister, Cabinet Member for Economic Development, Town Centre Regeneration and Growth at West Northamptonshire CouncilWe will continue to liaise with market traders and keep encouraging everyone to visit the temporary market on Commercial Street with events such as the free outdoor ice-skating taking place there this winter.
The stalls were designed and manufactured by Asteco Industria (Prestige Kiosks) who won the contract to supply the stalls after a competitive tendering process which included UK based and European suppliers. Prestige offered the best quality product and best value for money following this process.
To stay up to date with regeneration across Northampton visit www.wearenorthampton.com
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12 December 2023
Northamptonshire Partnership Homes (NPH) and West Northamptonshire Council (WNC) welcomed a visit from the new Minister for Housing, Lee Rowley, alongside Alex Burghart MP to one of their council housing developments in Northampton yesterday.
Steve Feast, NPH CEO, along with Stuart Timmis, WNC Executive Director of Place, Economy and Environment, gave Mr Rowley and Mr Burghart a tour of the site on New South Bridge Road, which will comprise of 28 one and two-bed flats when finished. The ministers were delighted to see positive progress on this site which will deliver much-needed council housing on behalf of WNC.
Accompanying the ministers were Andrew Lewer MP for Northampton South, WNC Leader Cllr Jonathan Nunn, WNC Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Culture, Leisure and Housing Cllr Adam Brown, and WNC Cabinet Member for Finance Cllr Malcolm Longley.
The development at New South Bridge Road has demonstrated how NPH, working closely with WNC and local suppliers, can achieve great quality, fit-for-purpose family homes that will serve our community for years to come.Steve Feast, Chief Executive of NPH, which manages council housing tenancies in Northampton as well as developing new homes
The New South Bridge Road development is of particular interest to Mr Rowley, due to an essential funding contribution received from the Department of Levelling Up and Communities (DLUHC) via the One Public Estate programme.
The funding awarded to WNC was through the Brownfield Land Release Funding (BLRF) scheme which aims to unlock council-owned sites for housing by addressing site viability issues. Prior to commencement of the building works last year, the former brownfield land had been unused for several years and the funding from the DLUHC enabled extensive remedial works to completely clear the site and make it suitable for development into housing.
We want to build the new homes people need and brownfield land in places like Northampton is crucial to delivering the Long-Term Plan for Housing.Minister of State for Housing and Planning, Lee Rowley MPOur £470,000 funding will transform this unloved and unused brownfield site into a thriving new neighbourhood, help more families on to the property ladder and deliver the affordable homes that this community needs.
It was a pleasure to welcome Mr Rowley and Mr Burghart to Northampton to see first-hand the high-quality affordable homes that we are building.Cllr Adam Brown, Deputy Leader of West Northamptonshire Council and Cabinet Member for Housing, Culture and LeisureThe New South Bridge Road development is one of many social housing projects in the pipeline being delivered in West Northamptonshire as we continue to take significant steps towards providing more affordable housing and sustaining the national housing demand.
We are grateful for the £470,000 funding from central Government’s Brownfield Land Release Fund which has enabled us to work with local contractors to deliver this project on what was formerly undeveloped land. We look forward to seeing the project completion next year.
The development is currently on schedule and predicted for completion late summer 2024.
Find out more about Northamptonshire Partnership Homes.
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13 December 2023
Residents, businesses and community groups in West Northants are encouraged to share their views on the draft budget proposals for 2024/25.
Members of the Cabinet met last night (Tuesday, 12 Dec) to discuss a range of saving and efficiency proposals which will allow the West Northamptonshire Council (WNC) to balance its books, while protecting the most vulnerable in our community and tackling the rise in costs and demand for services.
The proposals are now open to public feedback for six weeks until midnight on Tuesday, 23 January. The final budget will be presented to the full Council in February 2024.
People can have their say on the budget proposals by completing the survey on our Consultation Hub. The survey can be accessed online for free at libraries across West Northants, or you can request a copy in another format by emailing [email protected] or phoning 0300 126 7000.
We have worked hard to shape a robust, balanced draft budget that prioritises our resources to support our most vulnerable residents and protect frontline services in the most cost-effective way possible.Councillor Malcolm Longley, Cabinet Member for Finance at West Northamptonshire CouncilYour feedback is very important to us, as it empowers us to make informed decisions and drive positive changes in our communities. So, please take the time to tell us what you think. You don’t have to answer all of the questions or provide feedback on every section, you can choose to focus on the areas that are most important to you.
The budget proposals for next year are made up of a £409.2m net revenue budget (excluding grant-funded schools' expenditure of £451m) and also include £25.7m of efficiencies through planned improvements in productivity and additional income generation.
To help WNC balance the books whilst continuing to protect services during its fourth year as a unitary authority, the draft budget proposals include:
- Increasing fees and charges broadly in line with inflation, to ensure they continue to properly reflect today’s operating costs.
- Proposing to raise Council Tax by 4.99% This increase equates to an average rise of £1.63 a week on a Band D property.
- Continuing to review services and restructure teams within the organisation, introducing new, more efficient ways of working to make back-office savings without impacting on how services are delivered to residents.
During 2024/25 the Council also plans to invest a total of almost £143m in its capital programme, to improve local infrastructure and assets such as land, buildings and equipment.
It is also set to spend an estimated £20m in public health funding from the Government in the year ahead to progress a range of schemes aimed at improving residents’ wellbeing, reducing health inequalities and continuing to support communities through the ongoing cost of living challenges.
Within the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) there are plans to invest £54m of capital funds in social housing during the next financial year, which forms part of a total five-year capital programme which amounts to £279m. Also built into the plans is investment in decarbonisation which is estimated to impact on 500 homes.
The capital investment in 2024-25 includes:
- £7m on external improvements
- £11m on internal works improvements
- £2.3m on disabled adaptations
- £24m on new build programmes and major projects; and
- £10m on buying back social housing and for spot purchases of suitable properties.
In addition to this the Council will spend approximately £65m on managing and maintaining the existing housing stock which is funded primarily by Housing Rents received from current tenants.
To ensure this can be achieved, the draft budget proposals include an increase in rents in our rented housing of 7.7% in line with the Government’s amended Rent Standard.
Cabinet will consider the final budget for 2024/25 on Tuesday, 13 February 2024 for recommendation to the full Council meeting on Thursday, 22 February 2024; subject to any changes made following consideration of the consultation feedback, the Local Government financial settlement and the latest financial position.
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