Full steam ahead for £25m railway project
By Stephanie Bartup, Midlands Correspondent
Plans for the £25m redevelopment of Northampton Railway Station have been completed and approved as part of the region's 'Station Gateway' scheme. The project is set to create about 4,000 jobs in the region. Rob Purdie, executive director of Northamptonshire Enterprise Partnership told Insider the move would "unlock significant opportunity" for the city.
West Northamptonshire Development Corporation (WNDC), one of the partner organisations, said it had submitted a bid for Regional Growth Fund (RGF) investment to support the programme.
The new station, which is estimated to cost about £25m, is part of a wider regeneration scheme known as the ‘Station Gateway’. It incorporates several Brownfield sites along the River Nene in Northampton town centre.
The programme could bring in up to 753,473 sq ft of commercial development, creating up to 4,000 new jobs.
Purdie said: "Northamptonshire Enterprise Partnership helped fund the early stage research into this proposed redevelopment, not least because Northamptonshire's enviably accessible location is fundamental to attracting business and visitor audiences.
"The proposed improvements would not only unlock significant opportunity for Northampton, but also provide a fitting gateway for a county already attracting some 20 million visitors and £905m spend in the local visitor economy."
WNDC will work alongside with Network Rail to complete the station redevelopment. The station's outline design has been completed and prior approval for the scheme has been received.
Full planning permission is not required as the site is covered by Network Rail’s permitted development rights.
Peter Mawson, WNDC’s chief executive, said: "Northampton is one of the fastest growing parts of the country in terms of new jobs and housing, yet the station is already at capacity during peak hours. As part of a wider regeneration programme, the new station is critical to the continued growth of a major economy in the centre of England."
WNDC said it is "exploring funding options" for the completion of the project and has submitted a bid to the government's RGF to support the 'Station Gateway' programme.
The site is also part of the proposal for a Northampton Waterside enterprise zone, one of 29 bids from across the country currently being considered by government.
