Students, trees and new businesses could make Northampton neighbourhood street a thriving shopping centre, says group

Local shop owners say St Leonard's Road, Far Cotton, is a prime spot to be Northampton's newest district shopping centre.

They say by replanting trees, attracting new businesses and working with students they can make the residential street "an extension of the town centre" - all under a new name, St Leonard's Place.

Geroge Karayannis, chairman of the Association of Far Cotton Enterprises, which is spearheading the plan, said: "Hopefully the development of St Leonard's Road will generate a totally new spirit in the area for change and business.

"It is in walking distance of the new university Waterside Campus and the newly-refurbished Delapre Abbey, which will both be nationally important when they are ready. St Leonard's can be a shopping district for both of them."

An early-doors plan setting out how to redevelop the road has been submitted to planning submitted to planning officers at the borough council, but no formal planning process has begun.

Its first step would include reshaping the pavement by planting up to 30 trees, reforming the junction with Cotton End and even bar HiMOs applications on St Leonard's Road.

Instead, the group wants to encourage homeowners and landlords to develop their ground floors into shops and rent out their second floors as flats.

Since 2017, there have been six applications to establish a HiMO in St Leonard's Road.

George said: "This is the first step to build a strong, independent and self-directed change-making association.

"It's a natural connection to the town centre and would improve the living standard throughout the area. We hope to move towards a plan of action in stages."

For more information on the ACFE's plans for St Leonards, visit their website.