Demolition of council flats in Northampton underway to clear room for 126 new homes

In a £15.9 million redevelopment, seven blocks of flats that are more than 50 years old are being bulldozed
Work is underway to demolish seven blocks of flats. Photo: NPHWork is underway to demolish seven blocks of flats. Photo: NPH
Work is underway to demolish seven blocks of flats. Photo: NPH

A Northampton neighbourhood is currently undergoing a huge change as demolition is underway on seven blocks of flats.

St Mary’s Court and Berkeley House, off Horsemarket, in the Spring Boroughs area of Northampton will make way for more modern council houses.

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The demolition of a total of 82 flats built in the 1960s started last month and workers are currently knocking down St Mary’s Court, which comprises of 22 flats in three blocks.

The site will be completely transformed when finished. Photo: Kirsty Edmonds.The site will be completely transformed when finished. Photo: Kirsty Edmonds.
The site will be completely transformed when finished. Photo: Kirsty Edmonds.

Berkeley House, formed of 60 flats in four blocks, will also be bulldozed, with the intention of the demolition phase of the project completing by the end of May, 2021.

As part of the £15.9 million project, once the site is clear, Northampton Partnership Homes has planning permission in place to build 126 new and affordable homes, which will include both flats and houses and is due to complete in late 2023.

Artist impressions of what the new homes will look like have now also been revealed, following criticism from a council report that the homes currently under constructions are 'badly designed, of poor construction and are thermally inefficient.'

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An NPH spokeswoman said: “Demolition is underway in Spring Boroughs, to enable work to start on a modern council development to replace St Mary’s Court and Berkeley House.

What the new homes are expected to look like. Photo: NPH.What the new homes are expected to look like. Photo: NPH.
What the new homes are expected to look like. Photo: NPH.

“Northampton Partnership Homes, on behalf of West Northamptonshire Council, will be building 126 new homes; a mix of apartments and houses to increase the number of homes on this prominent site by 44.

“The development will also include green leisure space and additional parking provision for residents.

"The demolition will be complete at the end of May and the development is expected to be complete in late 2023.

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"Residents of St Mary’s Court and Berkeley House have all been rehoused however those who have opted to do so, can return to one of the new homes that meets their needs."

An artist's impression of the new builds. Photo: NPH.An artist's impression of the new builds. Photo: NPH.
An artist's impression of the new builds. Photo: NPH.

The new development will consist of 40 two-bed flats, five two-bed houses, 17 three-bed houses and two four-bed houses.

As well as the homes, the development will also include two roof gardens, a communal garden and an area of new planting on Horsemarket.

Of the 48 council tenants who have moved out of Berkeley House and St Mary’s Court, 21 expressed a desire to return to ‘The Roof Gardens’ when it is completed and ready to live in.

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