New Northampton Station
29 January 2013, 12:47 | Updated: 29 January 2013, 12:56
New plans for a new and improved Northampton railway station have been unveiled.
Pictures of what the station will look like have been released by West Northamptonshire Development Corporation. The new railway station will be twice the size of the current station, with more capacity and better facilities.
Work on the £20m development is due to start in spring 2013 and be complete by summer 2014. West Northamptonshire Development Corporation say it is a key part of ‘Northampton Alive’ – a thriving series of improvements to Northampton town centre.
Chris Garden, Director of Regeneration at West Northamptonshire Development Corporation said: “These plans are an exciting indication of what the bigger and better station will look like. Over coming weeks we will be agreeing the finer design details, while respecting the rich heritage of the site. Northampton will finally have the station it deserves.”
Cllr Jim Harker, Leader of Northamptonshire County Council, said: “Transforming Northampton Castle Station is a key project in helping boost the economy in Northampton, our county town. The county council is pleased to be able to play an important part both in the funding and in the realisation of this project. For many, the railway station will be their first introduction to Northamptonshire so it’s absolutely essential that this gateway gives a first-rate impression.”
Cllr David Mackintosh, Leader of Northampton Borough Council said: “When people arrive in our town we want them to feel they are in a place that is welcoming, forward thinking and open for business. This is another exciting project that shows how Northampton is Alive with culture, heritage and enterprise. The new railway station will be good for residents that commute, create the right impression for visitors to our town and supports our ambitious business community and the Waterside Enterprise Zone.”
Brian Binley, MP for Northampton South and formulator of Northampton Alive, said he was delighted to see the plans for the station coming to fruition in such a positive way: “We battled hard to get the money from the Department of Transport, not least because the new station is so important to the Enterprise Zone, which will create many new opportunities for today’s generation and those who follow.”
The full plans are featured on a dedicated website that will operate for the duration of the project www.northamptonstation.co.uk. They are also being displayed in a public exhibition at the Northampton Grosvenor Centre, running from Monday 4 February to Saturday 9 February 2013 on the ground floor of Northampton's Grosvenor Centre.
The exhibition will be open between 10am and 4pm.
