Councillors have given the green light for a £4.6 million plan as the next stage of bringing Northampton town centre back to life.
West Northamptonshire Council’s cabinet meeting on Tuesday was asked to approve spending on enhancing Abington Street and Fish Street.
Cash from a £24.9 million kitty won by the council from the government’s Towns
Fund is earmarked to ‘revitalise the pedestrianised areas of Northampton’s main shopping streets with improvements enhancing the experience for pedestrians and families.’
These images by architects show how the town centre could look and are only indicative at this stage. There are four proposals for Abington Street - Dynamic Street, Green Street, Simple Street and a Blended Street - and two proposals for Fish Street.
The scheme will be put out to public consultation later this year.
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An artist's impression showing how Abington Street could look in the future Photo: Gillespies
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The area of Northampton included in the proposal. Abington Street and Fish Street are earmarked for public realm improvements. The areas in blue are outlined for minor streetscape improvements and the Market Square is part of a separate proposal. Photo: Gillespies
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This first proposal for Abington Street titled ‘Dynamic Street’ provides a vibrant and multi-functional streetscape with a central, meandering paving pattern, accompanied by pockets of activity zones designed to encourage longer dwell time, and attracting more shoppers and visitors to this area, Photo: Gillespies
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This proposal aims to encouraging a wide range of activities such as informal play, street performance, outdoor dining, and flexible event spaces that have been carefully positioned along the central route. Flexible and demountable street furniture will also allow a greater flexibility of the street arrangement. Most of the existing trees will be retained and any trees lost due to proposals will be replaced with new, semi-mature trees Photo: Gillespies
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The plans include trees and green amenity, alfresco dining and spill out space, temporary market stalls, pop-up space and social space Photo: Gillespies
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The Illustrative masterplan provides an overview of the proposed improvements to Abington Street, including the following elements: • Upgraded paving to match existing palette implemented in the eastern section of the street in 2014 • Relocated existing public art • New street furniture, including seats and picnic benches • Informal play elements • Flexible event / performance space • Flexible pop-up spaces / temporary market stalls • Retained and proposed trees • Alfresco dining areas • Feature mural artwork and screens Photo: Gillespies
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The second proposal for Abington Street titled ‘Green Street’ focuses on the environmental improvements the through planting of a substantial number of trees accompanied by swathes of street-level planting. Photo: Gillespies
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The use of permeable paving will assist with the rainwater infiltration while the new planting will help to improve the town centre’s micro-climate and increase the biodiversity through introduction of wildlife-friendly species. Photo: Gillespies
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Small pockets of outdoor dining and flexible seating/event spaces have been carefully positioned underneath the tree canopies providing the visitors and shoppers an opportunity to enjoy the green and leafy environment.
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The area of Northampton included in the proposal. Abington Street and Fish Street are earmarked for public realm improvements. The areas in blue are outlined for minor streetscape improvements and the Market Square is part of a separate proposal. Photo: Gillespies
3.
This first proposal for Abington Street titled ‘Dynamic Street’ provides a vibrant and multi-functional streetscape with a central, meandering paving pattern, accompanied by pockets of activity zones designed to encourage longer dwell time, and attracting more shoppers and visitors to this area, Photo: Gillespies
4.
This proposal aims to encouraging a wide range of activities such as informal play, street performance, outdoor dining, and flexible event spaces that have been carefully positioned along the central route. Flexible and demountable street furniture will also allow a greater flexibility of the street arrangement. Most of the existing trees will be retained and any trees lost due to proposals will be replaced with new, semi-mature trees Photo: Gillespies