Delayed £12 million project BEGINS to transform vacant shopping centre in Northampton
A £12 million project to transform a former shopping centre in Northampton into a major food and leisure destination has now started.
Plans to turn the former Market Walk shopping centre into a STACK venue have now begun this month (January), according to West Northamptonshire Council (WNC).
A WNC spokesman said: “We're excited to share that soft strip-out works have begun at Market Walk, paving the way for surveys and further preparations.
“This marks this phase of works to transform the former shopping centre into STACK Northampton, a £12 million leisure destination featuring street food, bars, live entertainment, and family-friendly spaces.
“The scheme will boost the town centre economy, and provide residents with a vibrant hub for dining, socialising, and events. Further updates will follow as work progresses.”
An initial start date was set for summer 2024, with a planned summer 2025 opening, but WNC recently said the project will not be completed until winter 2026, meaning it may now open in 2027.
Explaining the multiple delays, Reform councillor James Petter, cabinet member for local economy, culture and leisure at WNC, previously said: “As with any major regeneration scheme, dates are always indicative and subject to change. Both teams are working hard to bring this project forward, and we’re confident that STACK Northampton will be worth the wait.
“This development will create a vibrant destination for food, drink, live entertainment and events, and play a key role in the wider regeneration of the town centre. We look forward to sharing further updates as the scheme progresses.”
The redevelopment will see the site, which closed in 2021, converted into a mixed-use venue featuring a food hall, bars, retail units, and a lower ground floor for live music, fitness events and family activities.
In August, STACK admitted the project had been “a little ambitious” with its timescales.
A spokeswoman said at the time: “We’re really excited to be bringing STACK to Northampton, but as with many large-scale regeneration projects, there have been a number of factors which have pushed back our original programme."
WNC is supporting the development with £4.175 million from the Towns Fund alongside £8 million from STACK.
Chronicle & Echo has asked if any money has yet been handed over from WNC to STACK. Neither the council or STACK have responded to the question.
Around 250 jobs are expected to be created once the venue opens, with proposed opening hours from 8am to 2.30am daily.
The STACK development is one of a number of regeneration projects being backed by West Northamptonshire Council as part of a wider town centre overhaul, funded by more than £33 million secured from central government through the Towns Fund.