Decision Maker: Cabinet

Outcome: Recommendations Approved

Is Key Decision?: No

Is Callable In?: No

Date of Decision: March 4, 2025

Purpose:

Content: RESOLVED: Cabinet; 1.               Authorised the Director of Communities and Opportunities, in consultation with the Chief Finance Officer, Monitoring Officer and Cabinet Member for Local Economy, Culture and Leisure, to conclude the terms of and enter into the Development Agreement and associated documents to appoint the English Cities Fund as the Council’s development partner for the Greyfriars development. 2.               Authorised the Executive Director of Place, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Local Economy, Culture and Leisure, Chief Finance Officer and Monitoring Officer, to acquire properties and land within the Greyfriars study area subject to business cases being produced, considered and approved by ELT and the Capital Assets Board for each acquisition including sufficient satisfactory due diligence being completed and costs being within the proposed Greyfriars acquisition budget. 3.               Confirmed it is willing to exercise, in principle, its compulsory purchase powers to facilitate the Greyfriars development if necessary.     REASONS RESOLVED:   1.     The proposed decisions will allow the regeneration of sites that have been derelict for over a decade, which has in turn contributed to the decline of Northampton town centre. It will leverage hundreds of millions of private and public sector investment to deliver a critical mass of high quality housing within the town centre alongside new commercial, public, leisure and community spaces. Through delivering development on brownfield sites, it relieves the pressure on greenfield land across West Northamptonshire as well as in turn increasing the vitality and vibrancy of the town centre. 2.     Greyfriars is a strategic brownfield regeneration opportunity that aligns with the West Northamptonshire Council’s Corporate Plan objectives. ·       Green and Clean – Greyfriars is utilising brownfield land that supports sustainable development by investing in new green spaces to support the council's ambition to become net zero by 2030. ·       Improved Life Chances – Greyfriars will introduce new facilities for wellbeing with new green spaces, indoor and outdoor event spaces and creative hubs. ·       Connected Communities – through the development of the Greyfriars sites, it will create an intergenerational neighbourhood with spaces for new communities to come together. ·       Thriving Villages and Towns – Greyfriars will create a sense of pride within the town with vibrant regeneration allowing people to live, work and play. ·       Economic Development – Greyfriars will stimulate economic growth for local people with new businesses, employment opportunities and a boost to local commerce. ·       Robust Resource Management – Through working to secure a partnership with the English Cities Fund it allows for public and private investment to be leveraged through open and transparent governance. 3.     The regeneration of Greyfriars aligns closely with the ambitions set out in the One West Northamptonshire Plan. The plan emphasises thriving places and communities, economic growth, and sustainability, all of which are central to the vision for Greyfriars. 4.     By working in partnership with ECF (English Cities Fund) to bring forward a high-quality, mixed-use development, the Council is delivering on its commitment to revitalise Northampton town centre, attract new investment, and create a more vibrant, inclusive urban environment. The redevelopment will transform a long-underutilised site into a dynamic, well-connected space that supports new homes, commercial opportunities, and improved public realm, reinforcing the Plan’s goal of making West Northamptonshire a great place to live, work, visit, and invest. 5.     Furthermore, the project aligns with the Plan’s focus on sustainability and placemaking. The regeneration of Greyfriars will prioritise high-quality design, active travel connections, and environmental considerations, ensuring that the site contributes positively to the long-term resilience of Northampton’s town centre. By integrating Greyfriars with the wider Northampton Town Centre Masterplan, the Council is creating a coherent vision that reflects the needs of local communities and businesses, driving forward long-term prosperity in line with the One West Northamptonshire Plan’s vision for the next 5–15 years. 6.     The Council has considered a range of options for the delivery of Greyfriars and a long-term partnership with ECF is the optimal delivery route for the Council to meet its objectives for the regeneration of the site. The Council has made positive progress with the ECF since they were appointed for the PDSA stage, and it is anticipated an acceptable written submission that meets the Council’s objectives will be provided by ECF at the end of March which will allow the Council to enter into a development agreement in late Spring which will then allow for the potential of Greyfriars to be unlocked. 7.     Through delegating authority to acquire properties and land within the Greyfriars study area subject to business cases being produced and approved by ELT and the Capital assets Board and to the proposed acquisition budget being approved and expressing the Council’s willingness to use compulsory purchase powers it will reduce the likelihood that current owners will attempt to ransom the Council’s aspirations for regeneration of Northampton town centre by seeking excessive prices for their properties and land. It also allows the Council to move more efficiently and effectively to progress transactions.     ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS: ·       If Cabinet chooses to abandon the Greyfriars plans and decides to dispose of the sites within its ownership to the open market instead then this would mean the Council would lose control of future uses and the regeneration potential of Greyfriars and possibly the loss of hundreds of millions or private sector investment into the area. Given the complexity of the site area it may be difficult to secure comprehensive redevelopment another way and selling individual sites may not attract the same level of investment interest or financial value.