Northampton Forward

We're building on progress - and planning ahead.

From Market Square to Marefair, Northampton is already seeing major changes. This masterplan will set out what is next, with new neighbourhoods, public spaces, better ways to get around, and more reasons to be proud of our town.

We believe in Northampton’s future – and we want you to help shape it.

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We would like to hear your thoughts on our vision. This website will talk you through our vision before asking you to complete a short survey at the end.

The survey will close on Sunday 10th August 2025.

info Look out for highlighted hints like this. They will indicate interactive features on the map.

What's been happening in Northampton?

Big things are already happening in our town centre.

Over the past few years, we've been delivering major regeneration projects to revitalise the town centre, attract investment, and create new places to live, work and visit.

info Click on the map markers, or read below, to find out what's been happening.

This image: a render of Market Square.
The map now highlights green spaces throughout Northampton. Interactive numbered points on the map show the locations of the following schemes currently being delivered
throughout the town. Clicking on each map marker brings up the images as listed below.

1. Market Square has been completely reimagined. With new seating, lighting, trees, market stalls and event spaces – turning it back into a place for people to spend time.

A render of Fish Street at night with brightly coloured street lights.

2. Abington Street and Fish Street have had a modern upgrade, with better paving, planting, play, and lighting to create a more welcoming high street.

A rendered image showing what the new Market Walk could look like with new shops and cafes.

3. Market Walk is being transformed from a tired shopping arcade into a vibrant new space for street food, live music and entertainment and events.

A render showing how the new homes and retail replacing the former BHS and M&S sites could look.

4. Former BHS and M&S buildings will be demolished and replaced with new homes with retail and leisure space on the ground floor.

A render of the new Heritage Park at Marefair, celebrating Northampton's history.

5. Marefair Heritage Park is being created to celebrate Northampton’s history – with green space, places to sit and for community activity.

A rendered image of new homes and offices at Four Waterside.

6. Four Waterside near the station will bring new riverside homes, high quality office space and a hotel to the gateway of the town centre.

A plan sketch showing an improved Greyfriars including new homes and shops, along with new greenspace.

7. Greyfriars, once a forgotten corner of the town, is being reimagined as a new neighbourhood with homes, green space and spaces for creativity and culture.

A rendered image showing the potential new multi-storey car park near the train station.

8. Northampton Station phase two will see a new multi storey car park improving access and unlocking the wider site for future homes.

A rendered image showing how St James Depot could look with new homes.

9. St James Depot is being turned into a new place to live, celebrating its historic character.

These projects are the beginning. Now we are planning for the next 5 - 15 years and we want you to help shape it.

Map Key

A green circle containing a number one in white.

Northampton's major regeneration projects

Focus Areas

Northampton’s town centre is made up of a series of unique and characterful places. Each has its own story, identity and set of opportunities.

We’ve grouped these into eight focus areas that will shape the next phase of town centre improvements.

info Click on the map markers to view photographs showing these focus areas.

The focus areas are:

1. St James End
A gateway of sport, history and movement, with potential to improve connections and matchday experience.

2. Historic Core
At the heart of Northampton, this area is steeped in heritage with opportunities to enhance its role as the civic and cultural hub.

3. Greyfriars & Horse Market
A transformational site already in progress, offering spaces for new homes, green space and a new neighbourhood.

4. Station Gateway
A key arrival point with exciting potential to better link the station to the town and create a more welcoming first impression.

5. Cultural Quarter
Home to theatre, arts and entertainment – an area which will continue to be active, social and vibrant.

6. Cattlemarket
A strategic site with regeneration potential to create new homes, workspace and better connections.

7. Boot and Shoe Quarter
Rich in history, this area could become a thriving creative district celebrating Northampton’s shoemaking heritage.

8. Nene Riverside
An underused gem with the opportunity to become a beautiful riverside destination full of life and nature.

Each area has a role to play in shaping a stronger, more connected, and more exciting future for Northampton.

Map Key

	Focus area extent
	Focus area photographs

What's next for Northampton?

Let’s unlock our town’s full potential.

We’ve made real progress, but there’s more we can do together. This masterplan tackles some of the big opportunities for the future – from making our streets better to celebrating our hidden heritage and reimaging the riverside.

This image: a photograph of the footpath along the south bank River Nene, looking from the direction of the A508.
The map in this chapter shows map markers with different icons, each representing some of the challenges we have identified within Northampton and the opportunities these present to improve the town.
Clicking on these map markers brings up photographs showing the current conditions of each location.

info Click on the map markers to view photos of the opportunity areas around the town that we have identified.

We want to make Northampton…

…a walkable, well-connected town. Let’s improve our streets, making it safer, greener and easier to move around on foot and bike.

…a vibrant riverside destination, making space for people and nature. Let’s make Northampton a place to enjoy food, nature, culture and community by the water.

…heritage-rich, bringing empty spaces back to life. Let’s re-purpose vacant and derelict spaces into new homes, cultural, leisure and business spaces.

…a town centre with new inclusive neighbourhoods. Let’s create a mix of high-quality homes for people of all ages and backgrounds.

…a place for business. Let’s make space for local businesses to grow, from creative start-ups to established firms.

…a hub for culture and community. Let’s make the town centre full of independent shops, venues, cafes and events.

These opportunities will help us create a Northampton that we are all proud of which is vibrant, green, well-connected and full of life.

We believe in Northampton and there is great potential to create a modern town centre that can accommodate the needs of everyone whilst also still radiating Northampton’s unique character.

Map Key

Opportunity area photographs

We want to...

...change how we get around

A town that’s easy to move through is a town that works for everyone.

This image: a sketch showing how the disused railway could be reimagined as a new
active travel route, with cyclists and pedestrians surrounded by trees and natural landscaping.
The map in this chapter highlights potential active travel routes around and through the town. There are interactive map markers which show illustrative
photographs and sketches of how these areas could look. The sketches are overlaid with aerial images showing current site conditions for comparison.

info Click on the map markers to view Illustrative images and sketches showing how these improvements could look.

Some parts of the town centre can be hard to navigate. We want to transform how people move around Northampton. By making it simpler, safer and more enjoyable to walk, cycle and use public transport connecting key parts of the town. Whether you are commuting, shopping or simply enjoying the town centre.

info When you open the sketches, drag the slider left and right to see how the improvements could look in comparison to the area today.

Map Key

	Disused railway
	Illustrative sketches
	Sketch area extent
	Illustrative images

We want to...

...reconnect the River Nene

The river should be a highlight of town life – not a hidden edge.

This image: An illustrative sketch showing how the waterside could become a riverside destination, outside the Carlsberg Brewery.
The map in this chapter highlights the River Nene and shows indicative connections between the river and the town centre.
There are interactive map markers which show illustrative photographs and sketches of how these areas could look. The sketches are overlaid
with aerial images showing current site conditions for comparison.

info Click on the map markers to view Illustrative images and sketches showing how these improvements could look.

There is huge potential to transform the River Nene into a vibrant destination. Imagine riverside cafes, new homes, green spaces, and places to walk, rest, cycle and play.

info When you open the sketch, drag the slider left and right to see how the improvements could look in comparison to the area today.

Map Key

	Illustrative sketches
	Illustrative images

We want to...

...cherish our heritage

Our history is our strength – let's show it off.

info Click on the map markers to view Illustrative images and sketches showing how these improvements could look.

Northampton’s heritage gives the town its special character, from its heritage buildings to its cultural life. By reviving historic buildings, improving public spaces, and supporting cultural venues, we can make our history visible and celebrate what makes us unique.

We want to protect historic buildings, highlight hidden stories, and create beautiful, meaningful places that connect the past to the present.

info When you open the sketch, drag the slider left and right to see how the improvements could look in comparison to the area today.

Map Key

	Illustrative sketches
	Sketch area extent
	Illustrative images
	Heritage conservation areas

We want to...

...bring more people into the town centre

New neighbourhoods will help the town centre thrive. That means high-quality, well-connected homes near shops, parks, amenities, and workplaces – for everyone from families to students.

An illustrative image of a young family playing in a communal residential courtyard.
The map shows routes around Northampton between different residential areas, showcasing points of interest around the town.
There are interactive map markers which show illustrative photographs of how these areas could look.

info Click on the map markers to view Illustrative images showing how these improvements could look.

We want more people to live in the town centre who provide increased footfall and use local businesses and shops. For this to happen, we need a wider choice of homes to make that happen. That includes quality, affordable housing for families, students, older people and young professionals.

New homes will be delivered in line with the Local Plan, which also identifies areas for new schools, health facilities, amenities and green space.

Map Key

Illustrative images

We want to...

...create an environment supporting businesses to thrive

Northampton has a legacy of creativity, craft and innovation. We want to provide the right spaces – flexible, affordable, high quality – for businesses of all kinds to grow and succeed.

An illustrative aerial sketch showing how the Cattlemarket could become a new gateway to the town.
The map for this chapter shows areas for businesses to thrive including points showing older industrial sites.
There are interactive map markers which show illustrative photographs and sketches of how these areas could look. The sketches are overlaid
with aerial images showing current site conditions for comparison.

info Click on the map markers to view Illustrative images and sketches showing how these improvements could look.

Northampton is full of talent and entrepreneurial spirit. By supporting local businesses and creating new spaces for work and innovation, we can grow a stronger local economy and provide better job opportunities for residents.

info When you open the sketch, drag the slider left and right to see how the improvements could look in comparison to the area today.

Map Key

	Illustrative sketches
	Illustrative images

We want to...

...create a hub for culture and community

Retail is changing everywhere. Our town centre needs more variety, more independent businesses, and more reasons to visit – from culture and events to food and leisure. This is our chance to create a new kind of high street for Northampton.

info Click on the map markers to view Illustrative images and sketches showing how these improvements could look.

info When you open the sketch, drag the slider left and right to see how the improvements could look in comparison to the area today.

Map Key

	Illustrative sketches
	Illustrative images

Now we want to hear from you...

...help us shape the vision for your town!

Thank you for taking the time to read more about our vision for the new Northampton Town Centre Masterplan. We are now asking you to give us your thoughts by answering our short online survey.

The survey will close on Sunday 10th August 2025.

info Click the map marker or the button below to answer the survey.

Answer the survey here

Next steps...

The thoughts and ideas contributed during this first stage engagement are really important to us. They will help shape the future of Northampton town centre. The team will review all comments and suggestions we receive and use these to help develop the masterplan.

This plan will reflect the priorities, opportunities, and challenges identified by local people, businesses and community groups. We will come back in the Autumn to share this vision with you.

Once the masterplan is complete, we’ll create a clear action plan that sets out how the projects will be delivered over the coming years. These will bring positive change to the town centre in a way that reflects what matters most to the community.

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An Engaged Space community engagement on behalf of West Northamptonshire Council. Powered by Deetu .

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Back to the start

We are looking to develop a new masterplan for Northampton, that will guide exciting improvements to our streets, public spaces, homes and heritage – creating a town centre that’s vibrant, connected and full of opportunity.

This is not just another plan – this is the next step in a journey that is already underway. We’ve seen progress in recent years with projects such as the Market Square and STACK, and now we’re looking ahead to the next 5 – 15 years to keep that momentum going.

We would like to hear your views on our vision. Click "start reading" below to learn more and to answer the survey at the end of this website. You can also skip straight to the survey by clicking the button below.

West Northamptonshire Council is leading this engagement in partnership with Deetu, Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios, Planit and Civic.

It closes on Sunday 10th August 2025. All feedback from this engagement will be anonymous.

Want to speak with the team? Join an online drop-in session for a one-to-one chat about the masterplan.

These sessions will be held on Tuesday 29th and Wednesday 30th July 2025. Please click here to book a session.

Scroll down the main menu to read through each section of this website. If you are using a mobile device, you can scroll down to read each section in full, and then click the left and right arrow buttons to navigate to the previous or next section.

Each section of this website has a descriptive map key in the main menu, with hints to let you know about any interactive features on the map.

Once you reach the end of the website, we will ask you to complete a short survey about these plans. Your views really matter to us.

You can pan, zoom and tilt the map to fully explore the site.

Click the "Start reading" button below to get started.

This website is to be used as a engagement tool only and not for architectural or design purposes. Buildings, sites and features are represented as approximations of their true dimensions and the map does not account for terrain.

The data within the model is derived from a variety of open data sources and we thank the organisations attributed below for its provision.

Data Source	License
OS Open Data	Contains Ordnance Survey data © Crown copyright and database right .
OpenStreetMap Contributors	Contains OpenStreetMap data and derived data licensed under the Open Database Licence.

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