Council backs Grosvenor redevelopment deal (Northampton Liberal Democrats)

Northampton Liberal Democrats <info@northamptonlibdems.org.uk>

Council backs Grosvenor redevelopment deal

October 15, 2009 5:25 PM

Northampton Borough Council Cabinet agreed last night (Wednesday 14 October) to the signing an agreement with Legal & General, which could lead to the redevelopment of the Grosvenor Centre, the bus station and the surrounding area.

Cabinet agreed last night to move forward with L&G and while the signing is still dependent on the satisfaction of a number of conditions, this is a significant early step towards planning the redevelopment of the existing Grosvenor Centre and other areas of the town centre.

There would still be a long way to go - large-scale redevelopment schemes are complex and long-term projects - but if they come to fruition, the new proposals would see the existing Grosvenor Centre double in size.

Some of the historic pedestrian routes across the town would be reinstated and improved by a mixture of open and covered shopping areas. There would be better car parking and also accessible and modern bus passenger facilities to replace Greyfriars bus station.

If the project goes ahead, Northampton Borough Council and L&G would have to work together with the bus companies, retailers and other businesses to create alternative public transport facilities and then to secure funding to take the project forward.

The scheme would need to be designed, planning permission achieved and the land made available to enable work to begin.

Councillor Richard Church, Cabinet member for regeneration, said: "While this agreement would still need to satisfy a number of conditions before it could go ahead, it would be a significant step towards the wider regeneration of the town centre that we all want to see."

"We have an ambition for Northampton to become a vibrant shopping and business centre for the region that makes the most of its traditional heritage as the county market town. I know that is what people want to see and we are working hard in every way we can to achieve that.

"We welcome L&G's significant commitment and contribution to the regeneration of Northampton and are looking forward to achieving our mutual objectives for the redevelopment of the town."