Bus stop to move and road to close during Northampton high street's 15 month facelift

Multi-million pound works to re-pave St Giles Street in Northampton and install new lighting is set to get underway this month - but motorists are being warned of diversions while the work takes place.
Works to St Giles Street are due to start on February 22.Works to St Giles Street are due to start on February 22.
Works to St Giles Street are due to start on February 22.

The improvements to St Giles, voted high street of the year in a recent government competition, will be carried out in stages and should be fully completed by May 2017, according to Northampton Borough Council.

Announcing the start of the works today, the authority’s cabinet member responsible for regeneration, said it would be “business as usual” during the building.

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He said: “There will clearly be some disruption to businesses, shoppers and visitors in St Giles Street while the improvement work takes place.

“We are in regular liaison with a business steering group, keeping them informed of what is planned, when and where, and businesses and residents in the area will be updated with timely correspondence as the programme unfolds.”

Work on the first phase – improving St Giles Street between Hazelwood Road and Castilian Street – is to start on Monday, February 22.

Traffic diversions will be in place during the works, but pedestrians will have access to the street at all times. Road users are advised to check on closures and diversions and carefully follow the road signage around the area.

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The bus stop in St Giles Street will be re-located to Derngate and car parking spaces will not be available. Motorists looking to shop in St Giles Street are advised to use the parking bays in Abington Street, the Ridings car park, or the town centre multi-storey car park.

There will be a break in the programme between October this year and the end of January next year to minimise disruption during the Christmas shopping rush, the council says. Councillor Hadland claimed that businesses in Guildhall Road were “complimentary about the level of support they received from the contractors” while work took place on the street in 2014.

The improvements will include new paving, lighting and tree planting in the street, in a similar style to Guildhall Road.

Fish Street and St Giles Square will also be upgraded as part of the program.

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Road users are advised to check on closures and diversions and carefully follow the road signage around the area.

The programme will be split into a number of phases as follows:-

PHASE 1

WHERE: Hazelwood Road to Castilian Street

WHEN: February to April 2016

(no work will take place over the four day Easter period, March 25 to 28)

PHASE 2A

WHERE: Castilian Street to the Guildhall

WHEN May to July 2016

PHASE 2B

WHERE: St Giles Square

WHEN: August to September 2016

PHASE 3

WHERE: Fish Street

WHEN: February to March 2017

PHASE 4

WHERE: St Giles Terrace to Hazelwood Road

WHEN: March to May 2017

(no work will take place over the Easter holiday)

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