A busy street in Northampton town centre has reopened to traffic following completion of demolition works to a fire-damaged Grade II listed building.

Sheep Street has now been reopened following the safe demolition and clearance of the fire-damaged building that forced its closure in March this year.

The Grade II listed former Ex-Servicemen’s Club - owned by a charitable trust - was severely damaged by fire earlier this year, leaving the structure unstable and posing significant safety risks.

Since then, the council says it has worked closely with the owners, contractors and utility providers to complete complex clearance works, including asbestos removal, utility disconnections, and debris clearance.

placeholder image — Sheep Street has finally reopened.

The reopening comes after months of delays that left residents and businesses frustrated. Demolition works only began in late October, seven months after the fire, following pressure from Chronicle & Echo.

A nearby resident told this newspaper in October: “It was seven months of absolutely no activity, and WNC telling me they'd need to 'raise a ticket' for clear up to start. Yet a few days after your report, suddenly the collapsed area is boarded up and heavy plant has moved in. The power of the press.”

Costs for the work are being managed through a legal charge against the site, enabling recovery when it is sold, according to the council.

Councillor Richard Butler, Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport, said: “We know how frustrating this closure has been for residents, businesses, and visitors, and we share that frustration.

Sheep Street in Northampton has reopened following the safe demolition and clearance of a fire-damaged Grade II listed building that forced the road’s closure in March this year.

“Safety had to come first, and the challenges of dealing with a listed building damaged by fire were considerable.

“Our teams worked tirelessly to overcome these obstacles, and I’m pleased to say that the road has now been reopened.

“We know this has caused significant disruption for some and we thank everyone for their patience and understanding.”

There is a fault with the main traffic lights and temporary signals will remain in place while this is remedied.

The fire and delayed clearance also affected local services, with BT Openreach tracking around 70 homes whose landline and internet services were cut off by the building’s rubble.

Northamptonshire Police confirmed the blaze is being treated as arson. No arrests have been made and the investigation is ongoing.