Borough council sets out what they want to see from a Greyfriars development

Northampton Borough Council has set out what they would want to see from any developer who has a plan for the empty Greyfriars site.

Since the bus station was demolished in 2015, plans to build on the four-acre site have stalled, including a scheme to build a cinema and flats fell through in 2017.

Now, with no new publicised plans on the table, the borough council has set out in its 'Local Plan Part Two' consultation what it would want to see from developers who were planning on building on the site.

It comes after a report by chartered surveyor Montagu Evans in 2019 concluded that the former station would need millions of pounds infrastructure and prior investment to make it ready for development.

The council's Local Plan - which it sets out how it wants to handle planning applications until 2029 - reads: "This key development site is available for a high density, high-quality mixed-use town centre development and residential use which complements, expands and seeks to enhance the current town centre offer and improve connectivity to the Market Square and the town centre."

Namely, the council listed that any development should:

- Be of high-quality design and create "key, unique landmark buildings"

- Be of "sympathetic design" so that it works with historic character of Sheep Street while making use of existing pedestrian and cycle routes

- Have "outward" features at ground floor level for the public to engage - potentially meaning shops and services

- "Ensure that the views into and from the site are taken into consideration"

- Provide safe safe parking

- Create new pedestrian links and public spaces to better connect the site to the town centre

Additionally, developers must also demonstrate how they will improve air quality in the area.

The council is inviting residents to consult on its Local Plan until August 24.