'Unacceptable' student flats plan for Northampton's Market Walk shopping centre turned down by council in scathing letter

A proposal to convert Northampton's ailing Market Walk shopping centre into some 355 student flats was thrown out by the borough council.

In March this year, developers Urban Village Group Ltd put a plan forward to not only redesign the top two floors of the centre in Abington Street but to build a three storey extension on top to create a complex of student accommodation.

The idea even included building shops and restaurants on the ground floor.

But now, it has emerged the borough council rejected the scheme this summer after severely criticizing the Urban Village and architects Corstorphine + Wright.

In an unusually scathing letter of reply in July, the council denied planning permission by writing that the rooms would be "unacceptable" for the students living there.

The letter by head of planning Peter Baguley reads: "The proposed extension... would result in a stark, dominating, overpowering, obtrusive and incongruous appearance through the scale, massing, proportions and design used.

"The proposal would result in the provision of unacceptable living conditions for the majority of the future occupants through the provision of bedrooms that are offered poor natural light levels, poor outlook, and poor privacy levels."

Further, Mr Baguley listed off that the developers plans would "harm" the building, the street scene, the All Saints Conservation Area and "setting of a number of listed buildings".

Urban Village Group Ltd has been contacted to ask if they plan to revise their proposals and apply to the council again.

It comes after Market Walk was approved for a 'flexible change of use' plan in May this year that means it could eb converted into just about anything if developers come forward with reasonable proposals.

It's also the latest in a history of trouble proposals for the trouble shopping centre.

In 2017, the then owners were given planning permission to let empty shopping centre units to food, drink and leisure operators in a bid to increase footfall. The aim was to fill half a dozen units that had been empty for up to six years with cafes, bars and restaurants, as well as offices for professional and financial services.

And, before 2017 it had rebranded as a fashion destination but the loss of Next and Laura Ashley forced a rethink.