Highly anticipated demolition work has commenced at a key site in the Northampton Enterprise Zone.
Over coming months, a series of properties will be cleared at St Peter’s Waterside, making way for a flagship 20,000 sqm office development.
Starting this week, a row of 10 houses on Tanner St are being demolished. They will be followed by the demolition of the neighbouring gasholder as well as 4 business units off St Peter’s Way. By the end of this year, all of the structures will be removed, with land remediation continuing into the New Year.
Covering a stretch of brownfield land between the River Nene and St Peter’s Way, the 2 hectare site is owned by West Northamptonshire Development Corporation (WNDC) and National Grid.
Peter Mawson, Chief Executive at WNDC said: “These demolition works signal the start of a new beginning for Northampton’s Waterside. The site boasts excellent transport links and a riverside setting, meaning it is an ideal office location. Unsurprisingly, we have received a lot of interest from leading developers, which share our vision for a landmark office scheme. We expect to have a development agreement in place by early next year.”
Scott Lewis, Joint Venture Manager for National Grid explained: “We are delighted that work has now been able to start on these sites as both can contribute to the regeneration of this area of Northampton. We look forward to continuing to work with the local community, WNDC and Northampton Borough Council to ensure that the works progress well and cause the least possible impact on our neighbours.”
Cllr David Mackintosh, leader of Northampton Borough Council, said: “With all of the regeneration under way in Northampton at the moment, I don’t think there’s any doubt that we mean business. This is the latest in a string of projects to make significant progress in recent months, each of them improving another area of town. Northampton is attracting a great deal of national and international attention right now, thanks to the massive progress we’re making.”
Cllr Andre Gonzalez De Savage, Northamptonshire County Council cabinet member for economic growth, strategic infrastructure and public protection, said: “I’m delighted that the county council is playing such a key role in this development through upgrading the highways infrastructure feeding into Northampton’s Waterside. Working in partnership we’re starting to see some real evidence of regeneration in the town, paving the way to our future prosperity.”
