A busy council-owned car park in Northampton has sat empty for four months after being closed ahead of a £9 million regeneration project, but work on the scheme has still not started.

Doddridge Street Car Park, which served around 77 vehicles, closed in March to make way for West Northamptonshire Council's £9 million Four Waterside and Marefair regeneration scheme.

However, the site is still sitting empty at the end of July.

Responding to the Chron, a WNC spokesman said: "Doddridge Street Car Park was closed in March 2026 in anticipation of survey and remediation works required to prepare the site. These works have taken longer than expected to commence due to planning conditions relating to remediation activities which have taken additional time to resolve.

Doddridge Street Car Park, which served around 77 vehicles, closed in March to make way for West Northamptonshire Council's £9 million Four Waterside and Marefair regeneration scheme. It is still sitting empty and untouched at the end of July.

placeholder image — Doddridge Street Car Park, which served around 77 vehicles, closed in March to make way for West Northamptonshire Council's £9 million Four Waterside and Marefair regeneration scheme. It is still sitting empty and untouched at the end of July.

"The project remains an important part of the wider regeneration of Northampton town centre and work is continuing with development partner City Heart to progress the scheme. While there has been some slippage to the programme, activity is ongoing and the development will be delivered over a number of years in phases, with Marefair anticipated to be the first site to come forward. At this stage, an updated programme is being finalised, and it is too early to confirm a construction start date.”

Work on site had been slated to start in winter 2025, with the overall project supposedly finishing in 2032.

The council spokesman continued: “As with any major regeneration project, plans are kept under regular review. The potential reopening of the car park has been considered and will continue to be assessed against the delivery timetable. However, the council's focus remains on progressing this significant regeneration programme, which will help transform this area of Northampton and bring long-term benefits to residents, businesses and visitors."

The scheme is backed by around £9 million in funding, including £1.75 million from the Government’s Towns Fund and £7 million from the Northampton Waterside Enterprise Zone.

The Enterprise Zone is a regeneration programme that reinvests locally generated business rates into development projects around Northampton's Waterside area.

Developer Cityheart has been appointed to work with the council on the scheme.

Andrew Sanderson, development director, Cityheart previously said: “We are incredibly proud to be developing this important scheme with West Northamptonshire Council. Our vision is to deliver waterside homes, commercial and leisure facilities as well as highly sustainable workspaces in a site which will open up the town centre from the rail station.”

The continued closure comes as parking capacity in Northampton town centre has also been reduced following the closure of the 1,000-space Mayorhold multi-storey car park earlier this month over safety concerns.