Student flats planned for Northampton town centre revealed
PICTURES showing what a seven-storey block of student flats which is planned for Northampton town centre could look like have been unveiled.
The Chronicle & Echo first revealed in September that officials from The University of Northampton were holding talks with both Northampton Borough Council and the West Northamptonshire Development Corporation (WNDC) about plans to build 464 student flats on the St John’s open air car park, close to the Derngate Theatre.
Now, the university has submitted official plans for the development to the council.
They reveal the student flats would be built over a number of levels, rising to a maximum height of seven storeys.
The university said the development would create a new landmark. But the plans also show that while the 150 space St John’s car park would be built over, just five parking spaces for disabled students would be provided in the new development.
An official report looking at the impact of the development argued the drop in parking spaces would not have a serious impact on the town centre.
The report, which was commissioned by the university, said: “It is unlikely that students living at this site will keep cars elsewhere as there is very limited unrestricted parking locally and the cost of parking a car commercially is considered prohibitive.
“This overcomes any concern about students driving to the campuses and parking on surrounding streets.”
The University also said that any students who moved into the flats would not be given parking permits for either the Avenue or Park Avenue campuses, dissuading them from having cars. The borough council also said the town currently had 1,792 more parking spaces than were used at peak times.
The council has also worked out that attracting 500 students to the town centre could generate £2.9 million for the centre’s economy each year.
The council’s planning committee is expected to decide if the development can go ahead by the end of April.
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Comments
There are 33 comments to this article
Page 1 of 3
flippingheck
Tuesday, February 14, 2012 at 05:44 PMBeing someone who lives not many feet away from this proposed new development I just thought I would post my comments. I firstly think that the car park should stay. It is easier to use than the multi story and not all people like using multi-story car parks, especially in the evening. With Northampton expanding I feel keeping the car park is essential. Noise and disturbance will I am sure be the biggest issue. At the moment Guildhall road is fairly quiet at night. Anti-social behaviour is a worry. Yes, I accept that not all students are going to cause trouble but it is the few that will. Why pick this location as it isn't near the University Campus. Who is going to police these students? Also nearby properties are likely to depreciate because of this building and it will affect the view for some at the very least. One of the biggest issues for people living here is parking for friends and family. It is already difficult and this project will I am sure make it ten times worse.
bluestar
Monday, February 13, 2012 at 11:24 PMAs a resident of the town centre, supporter of further education, ex student, lifelong Northamptonian and fan of the town I think there are many aspects to consider with regard to this application. The biggest thing to consider is whether this is the right site for such a proposal and in my opinion it is not. With long term plans to develop the waterside and make a link to the centre in order to access it, this is the only site with potential to do that. With plans to also develop a cultural quarter the long sweep from the Guildhall, past the Theatre down through a public space and possibly over an iconic footbridge to Beckets Park and beyond this site would be the gateway to all that the future might bring. Building what is basically a block of flats in the middle of that would be disastrous. The fact that the block is to be used for students is neither here or there, but undoubtedly brings its own problems from nuisancenoise, parking issues and the like. The town would welcome another 464 students and all the money they spend and the cars they will undoubtedly drive, but this is NOT the place for them. Another town centre site could be considered, opposite the train station where the knocking down of a historic hophouse was approved, the bottom of Bridge Street, which has been a council car park for years. The Masonic Lodge on ST Georges Avenue is going up for sale, right next to the campus, could that be more convenient??!! Welcome students, welcome development but not on that site! This will be a BIG mistake!
Four wheel driver
Monday, February 13, 2012 at 10:48 PMWel, done council. Your fine with your company cars. Parking spaces and taxi accounts. Your once again out of touch with what your local residents want and need. The half way house on st johns passage was bad enough with 20 rooms. Nightly fighting cars being broken drugs being dealt in broad daylight on Victoria gardens and Victoria Promenade. The student house on the corner of Victoria gardens already cases problems at the weekend with all their Mayes coming over in their cars and coming bank drunk in the early hours screaming like banshees with their one night stands in tow. And this only had five students in it. This area is supposed to be the gateway to the Marina. It will be more like a war zone. Just visit any city in the Uk. And walk round the student area. Total lack of respect for the surroundings and culture of were they are crashing - WHY ? Because the students living in these digs aren't local so they're not at bothered about upsettingneigbours. Getting drunk. Fighting and dealing drugs in the streets. Don't scratch your heads counsillors when your voted out next election time
ScaryMary2008
Friday, February 10, 2012 at 01:13 PMIf you want to build over a car park, then why not build over the two on Chalk Lane (Next to Sol Central). Not only would they be closer to town and the entertainment offered by Sol Central, but they may help to regenerate that area. failing that, there are plenty of other brownfield sites that could be used within town. Apart from, that i am happy to see investment in the university and its students.
jimorourke
Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 01:55 PMI don't think this development should be allowed until the council has sorted out the bus station problem.
Collin19899
Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 01:00 PM@ lady muck, Yes the university has lots of students that travel in BUT the ones that live in halls tend not to have cars. And the university does advertise its halls as having no parking spaces. @ JACKSON The government has made it so that people wishing to be a nurse will need to do a university degree, This is to raise that standards of nursing so that they have some idea of what they are doing on there first day! And can you find a nice big bit of land that the uni can build on that's near the campuses? I think less people would be happy if the uni built on the Race Course or on green field sites out by Moulton Park!
SteveRiches
Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 04:39 AMIt is no longer unusual for students to have a car, so I am puzzled by the attitude of planners who seem determined to put as many obstructions as possible in the way of car users. Pardon me for stating the obvious but don't most people - not just students - these days use a car in order to get from one place to another? This will include the great majority of planners, and the staff of the university, not just many of the students. Those people for whom public transport provides a reasonable, convenient and affordable way of getting around will of course make buses etc. their preference, they would be silly not to do so, but for the majority of people it really does not perform those functions. For it to do so would require massive subsidies and I see no stomach for that .I am lucky enough to live on a bus route but still only use it around 3 times a year. That will only change if I become stony broke. So we use the car unless we are of low income and cannot afford to run one, at least, that's a fact for 98% of us, although well done to the 2% (that's a guess) who can afford to run a car but who choose not to because they feel strongly that doing so is bad for the environment etc. etc., however most of us are selfish and will use one. Please would planners stop demonising the car and instead face facts...we need places to park them at reasonable cost, so continually reducing the number of spaces where we may do this simply sends people elsewhere. The trend for putting up new buildings with no provision for car use smacks of the worst of the Communist era, where party officials had their own car while to downtrodden masses had to fester on buses. I realise that I have not mentioned the bicycle here, and until our planners are able to give bicycles their own dedicated safe space in which to travel, you might as well forget them as a form of mass transport. Those who do brave the deadly roads on one and put up with wet weather , punctures, broken chains, constant fear of theft, plus sweaty clothes on hot days, have my total admiration...but don't tout the dratted things as some sort of general salvation for transporting the majority of us! The car is king, so face facts. If you can provide me with my own little travel pod that goes where I want when I want then I'll ditch my car, oh, hang on, that IS a car!!
willi eckaslyke
Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 12:43 AMWhat an unbelievably barmy notion...surely, everyone - including the students - would want to see them built close to the campus..Presumably, the result of more shady dealings from our resident spivs...they really do have to go; can't a 'hit' be arranged?
hoogle
Tuesday, February 7, 2012 at 09:50 PMwhy are people complaining about taking up parking there is an 8 storey long stay car park right next to the surface car park, It has rarely been filled past the 1st 2 floors, The only time it gets busy is maybe when the christmas pantomine is on but even so that has died down. Even if the students have a car however not sure how they can afford it lol they will still be entitled to the town centers resident permit at a cost of approximately £25 a year and lets you park your car in any long stay car park ie the multi storey next to it. Kingsthorpe is a quite a large area but can it really cope with an extra 500 students probably not. Already the majority of them live in student housing around town center. The problem is Northampton needs life bought back to it there is no night life anymore the main student club is closed down and the bars that are still open have to over compensate in there prices to keep in business and students are not willing to pay £4.50 for a bottle of smirnoff ice etc. There are very limited shops to attract students The council need to look at getting more student friendly businesses in the town center or at least develop some of the deserted buildings. At the moment the town is full of yobs and homeless people at night and half the decent people dont dare come once it is dark. I live bang in the town center so I can see what life is like out there and trust me it is not pleasant
Removed by moderator
Tuesday, February 7, 2012 at 06:32 PM"Nurses" Should these people not be trained in hospitals? "The University produces Teachers, Nurses, and Lots of other high quality courses! "
Semilong1
Tuesday, February 7, 2012 at 05:10 PMThe town centre needs to be vibrant to attract businesses having 500 students bang in the middle is great news, those who are worried about car parking, there's always somewhere to park and always will be, sometimes you may need to walk 5 minuets from a different car park but spaces are always to be found, but if this still gives you sleepless nights, take the bus from the new bus station.
Semilong1
Tuesday, February 7, 2012 at 05:09 PMMy daughter spent a successful 3 year term at Northampton University and loved the vibrancy of the town centre but her only gripe was the distance getting back to the campuses, looks like thats sorted now, Northampton should be proud of its university and the good it does.
kerryjk
Tuesday, February 7, 2012 at 05:09 PM"The report, which was commissioned by the university, said: “It is unlikely that students living at this site will keep cars elsewhere as there is very limited unrestricted parking locally and the cost of parking a car commercially is considered prohibitive." That is some of the most dazzling logic I've seen in ages: withhold provision for something, and that thing will simply cease to be an issue without further intervention. Brilliant! No need to be concerned with fripperies like shuttle busses or alternate transport provision, once they realise running a car is prohibitive students will find their own solutions such as growing wings or maybe seeking out other accommodation that hasn't been built by an idiot miles away from where they need to be every day. Also, that's a neat quota limit on disabled students there. Smell the awkwardness in the room when number six applies!
TheCount
Tuesday, February 7, 2012 at 03:54 PMlady muck - Good point. Surely the statudent digs should be build next to the student campus. This is going to have a bad effect on all those HMOs and over leveraged BTL-ers. I welcome it if has a positive effect on house prices, i.e. lower prices.
lady muck
Tuesday, February 7, 2012 at 02:58 PMCollin19899...I agree the University's brilliant, but it's at least 2 miles from the town centre, so why build the students flats there ? In fact, many of the students do have cars...to the extent that the car-park is usually rammed. this is because many of the students are 'mature' and come in from MK etc
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