Final stages of demolition at former bus depot in Northampton nearing completion as site set to be used for more than 70 new homes
The final stages of demolition at a former bus depot in Northampton, which will eventually be the site of more than 70 new homes, are nearing completion.
Works started on St James Bus Depot in summer last year, after West Northamptonshire Council’s (WNC) cabinet approved a plan to transform the vacant brownfield site in March 2025.
According to WNC, the demolition and remediation works are now nearing completion and are expected to finish during February. The council secured £1.368 million from the Government’s Brownfield Land Release Fund to complete these works.
A WNC spokesman said: “Progress was made throughout 2025, with activity slowing at the end of the year to enable essential planning checks and detailed ground testing to take place. These investigations have now confirmed exactly what work is required for the next phase.”
Work restarted on Monday January 19 and the final tasks to be completed include: final ground clean-up works based on the investigation findings, remediation inside the former transport offices, including light strip-out and limited asbestos removal and improved site security, with new fencing, secure window coverings and protective hoarding.
Councillor James Petter, Cabinet Member for Local Economy, Culture and Leisure at West Northamptonshire Council, said: “This is an exciting milestone for the St James Bus Depot site. Completing the remediation work will allow us to move forward with confidence and brings us closer to delivering our long-term vision to bring new life, activity and opportunity to this area.”
WNC added that contractor Armac will continue to keep nearby residents informed as work progresses ahead of the expected finish next month.
The council has also started the process of appointing a development partner and is working towards having a preferred developer on board by autumn 2026.
St James Bus Depot was built in the 1990s and was in use until 2013. WNC acquired the 4.5-acre site in 2023 and set about creating plans that “not only deliver much-needed housing but also protect key elements of Northampton’s transport heritage”.
Plans for the site include more than 70 new family homes, as well as a new public realm, to create a “vibrant new neighbourhood”.