Developing the 'Heritage Gateway' Offer for Central Northampton FINAL

Developing the ‘heritage gateway’ offer for central Northampton FINAL

Developing the ‘heritage gateway’ offer for central Northampton

Project Brief

1. Scope of the feasibility and options appraisal

There is a shared aspiration to ensure that the current development and regeneration of Northampton’s Town Centre is fully informed by and reflects the town’s unique heritage offer. Specifically, there are aspirations around the development of a ‘heritage gateway’ into the town.

The purpose of this feasibility and options appraisal is to explore the potential around the site of the former Northampton Castle and also taking advantage of existing heritage assets in this area as a focus for celebration of the Borough’s past, and specifically how an offer can be developed for an area known as ‘Castle Hill’ taking into account its heritage significance and setting, as part of the wider ‘heritage gateway’.

This feasibility and options appraisal will therefore take into account the elements of the wider ‘heritage gateway’ which are outlined in Section 3.

2. Partners and stakeholders

The partners commissioning this feasibility and options appraisal are Northampton Borough Council, Northamptonshire County Council, West Northants Development Corporation and the University of Northampton.

The partners will work with key stakeholders including Northamptonshire Enterprise Partnership, the Friends of Northampton Castle, the Churches Conservation Trust and other local community groups that include the Castle Partnership and Spring Boroughs Residents Association.

3. Context and aspirations

Northampton is proud of its history and heritage; this should be enhanced through regeneration projects, better revealing the rich heritage offer. The various regeneration and town centre development projects should be viewed as a whole and, where appropriate, be informed by the heritage offer and the local context that these provide. In particular, the town should celebrate the important history surrounding the former castle and some (physical and or interpretive) works should be undertaken to encourage people to be aware of the past and the importance of Northampton in Mediaeval history. Specifically, that a ‘heritage gateway’ zone will be created so that those using the town’s railway station as their route into the town centre, and the wider area, should be encouraged to appreciate the importance of the heritage of Developing the ‘heritage gateway’ offer for central Northampton FINAL

that part of the town which includes St Peters Church, a contemporary of the Castle and one of the finest Norman churches in England.

4. The Heritage Gateway defined

The ‘Heritage Gateway’ is defined as the entrance into the town from the west including the railway station, the Postern Gate, the Castle Hill area1, St Peter’s Church, Black Lion Inn and along Marefair (see maps in the attached appendix and the visual images in this appendix that illustrate how similar castle sites specifically have been developed and interpreted elsewhere).

5. The key elements of the ‘Heritage Gateway’

Northampton Borough Council, together with West Northamptonshire Development Corporation and Northamptonshire County Council, has ambitious plans for the development and regeneration of Northampton. These include the redevelopment of various sites in the centre of the town. In this wider context there are two potential ‘zones’ where heritage and culture can play a leading role – we have defined these ‘zones’ as the ‘heritage gateway’ zone and the ‘cultural quarter’ – see maps in the attached appendix.

This feasibility and options appraisal brief focuses on the ‘heritage gateway’. The key elements of the ‘heritage gateway’ are:

The Northampton Castle Railway Station re-development is key to any ‘heritage gateway’ as a point from which people access the town and because it is often the first point of contact that many people have with the town. Including heritage and cultural elements in the planned development will provide a stronger offer that will support economic growth. The partners involved in delivering this re-development will work with existing stakeholders to articulate the heritage and cultural options for delivery by the developer that will include reference to Northampton Castle and its associated history and heritage.

At time of writing, options for the use of various design elements that reflect the heritage have already been presented to the project leads. As well as specific works at the station and its immediate concourse, the key will then be to link the railway station development to the rest of the ‘heritage gateway’ offer and there is the scope to do some work to make this more evident, potentially linking sightlines or heritage interpretation from and to the Castle Hill area. Some visual images of similar developments elsewhere can be seen in the attached appendix.

St Peter’s Church and the Black Lion Inn. The Churches Conservation Trust (CCT) has articulated plans to develop a heritage centre for this area of the town. This would celebrate the castle and specifically St Peter’s Church. The proposal is that when people arrive in the town they have a place to visit

1N.B. The Castle Hill area comprises the former site of Castle Mound, The Great Hall and Queens Apartments, Castle Hill Church, Castle House, Chalk Lane and adjacent car parks. 2

Developing the ‘heritage gateway’ offer for central Northampton FINAL

to find out more about the heritage to which they have been introduced in the station, both in the immediate and the wider area. This will also support the Churches Conservation Trust to develop their ideas and plans for St Peter’s Church and the Black Lion Inn. In this project the partners have a supporting/facilitation role.

Lower Marefair and the Castle Hill area – The Friends of Northampton Castle have articulated plans for a heritage ‘plaza’ to include a re-sited Postern Gate, adjacent heritage garden, and presentation of the remains of the castle walls within the Castle Hill area. In addition, the Friends of Northampton Castle also propose the development of a heritage resource centre that presents the town’s medieval heritage. These proposals, in particular the Castle Hill area and identified components that include the former site of Castle Mound, The Great Hall and Queens Apartments, Castle Hill Church, Castle House, Chalk Lane and adjacent car parks, are a key element of this feasibility and options appraisal.

Although outside the ‘heritage gateway’ as envisaged, St Peter’s waterside and the Innovation Centre, which is to be developed opposite the railway station, offers further opportunities for the partners to see what heritage and cultural opportunities exist here, mindful of what is developed at the railway station.

In terms of developing a ‘heritage gateway’ offer, links with the station, and the opportunity of highlighting the heritage offer and the Castle through signage or public realm works, will be made within the project around the development of the Bus Interchange including The Drapery and Bridge Street. The partners will work together to support and influence the ideas being taken forward as this is also another key point of access to the town and the design and ideas need to be complementary with those of the ‘heritage gateway’. Appropriate links will also be made between what is developed as part of the ‘heritage gateway’ and the plans for the ‘Cultural Quarter’.

6. Historical background

Northampton Castle, as a stone fortification, was built in the 11th century. In the 12th and 13th centuries it became one of the most important castles in England and was a centre of royal administration and of royal parliaments for over 250 years (1131- 1380). There are a number of important historical events associated with its past. The site of the Castle was largely levelled from 1879 onwards for the construction of the railway station and the area has been extensively developed subsequently. However, recent excavation has shown that there is still surviving evidence below the ground in the area of the railway station.

There is also some surviving evidence for the Castle in the townscape adjacent to the railway station such as the Postern Gate and walls and specifically the area referred to as Castle Hill which includes the former site of Castle Mound, The Great Hall and Queens Apartments, Castle Hill Church, Castle House, Chalk Lane and adjacent car parks. This area, mainly owned by the Borough, has become largely underused and a site of anti-social behaviour. It has potential to make a positive

Developing the ‘heritage gateway’ offer for central Northampton FINAL contribution to the heritage offer and landscape for visitors and therefore is included in the scope of the ‘heritage gateway’ zone.

7. Purpose of the feasibility and options appraisal

The partners and the stakeholders are in the process of refining ideas around a ‘heritage gateway’ into the town focussing especially on the railway station, the Castle Hill area, lower Marefair and St Peter’s. This includes current proposals put forward by the Friends of Northampton Castle and Churches Conservation Trust.

The ‘heritage gateway’ project as a whole therefore has a number of components. The partners will support the development of the cultural and heritage elements across this range of developments by ensuring a continuity of officer involvement.

The partners therefore wish to employ external expertise to deliver a feasibility and options appraisal for the defined Castle Hill area, positioning this within the wider plans for the creation of a ‘heritage gateway’ into the town.

This feasibility and options appraisal will have to demonstrate understanding of the historical importance of the castle site, nationally and locally, and the context in which any plans for future development would need to sit. Therefore it will need to include a survey and analysis/interpretation of current evidence and information about the site, consider project proposals from key stakeholders The Friends of Northampton Castle and the Churches Conservation Trust, and develop an understanding of the nature and extent of plans for the various regeneration projects being undertaken around the site.

The feasibility work should take into account statutory and regulatory, preservation and conservation considerations, and any practical issues that would arise from different approaches to implementing further detailed interpretation of the Castle Hill area and potential offer. As a minimum this should include consideration of the potential to undertake further archaeological investigation; physical intervention (construction); physical intervention (landscaping) and interpretation (of varying formats). In the exploration of the potential for interpretation, reference should be made to the stories that might be used and developed. The options appraisal work could take the form of potential short, medium/longer term developments and each option should be accompanied by indicative costs.

The investigation and research should include capturing the views and ideas of the partners and key stakeholders including engagement with the relevant local community groups. It should take into account best practice and other examples of similar sites elsewhere.

8. Key delivery outcomes

At this initial phase of the project the consultant is required to deliver a technical report for the partners that address each of the points below: that raises awareness and appreciation of the significance of the heritage of the area for a wider audience.

Developing the ‘heritage gateway’ offer for central Northampton FINAL

A summary of the importance of the site of the Castle in the current context of the development of the ‘heritage gateway’ area (comprising the railway station site, St Peters, Black Lion Inn etc) – this should include both the historical importance and the potential for interpretation/physical intervention as part of the regeneration plans. Detail of the extent and results of stakeholder and community consultation. Summary of current ideas for enhancement, including the stories that might be used to progress the concept. The opportunities in the planning process for the public realm to ensure that all the works link together. There needs to be a synergy of approach in terms of issues such as quality, nature of materials, signage, ease of navigation around the town and its sites. Identification of any land ownership or legal barriers to the development of this site as part of the ‘heritage gateway’. For this initial phase identification of the feasibility and viability of the range of options proposed. A clear set of potential practical options for the enhancement of the Castle Hill area and offer as defined above as part of the ‘heritage gateway’, taking into account the feasibility /constraints as previously articulated (a maximum of five options and no less than three) with outline costs – these options may take the form of short, medium/longer term phased options. Risk assessment and issues log for the overall scheme and for each option as appropriate. A recommendation as to the most practical and affordable option with a clear rationale which respects the historic significance of the area and demonstrates best value for money. Outline timetable for delivery and potential funding sources. Setting the context for the wider ‘heritage gateway’ area.

9. Time scale

The feasibility and options appraisal should be completed within eight weeks of commencement. It is anticipated that this work will take place be between January and March 2013.

10. Contacts and consultation

The lead contact with whom the consultancy would work would be the County Council’s Cultural Policy and Planning Officer. He will liaise and work with the partners through the Director of Environment, Development and Transport, the Assistant Director, Environment and Planning and the Assistant Director, Customer Services at the County Council, the Director of Regeneration, Enterprise and Planning at Northampton Borough Council and a Senior Officer at West Northants Development Corporation.

The person(s) undertaking the work would be expected to liaise with a variety of people and organisations to seek their views, including:

Developing the ‘heritage gateway’ offer for central Northampton FINAL

Northamptonshire County Council Northampton Borough Council West Northamptonshire Development Corporation Northampton Alive Project Board English Heritage Churches Conservation Trust The Friends of Northampton Castle Spring Boroughs Neighbourhood Forum Local amenity organisations Local community groups

The consultant should consult and involve the Churches Conservation Trust with regard to any proposals around community engagement. Access to existing reports and studies will also be provided.

11. Fee and budget breakdown

A fixed fee will be payable and this will include any expenses incurred. An office base could be provided.

Your expression of interest should outline your methodology in approaching the feasibility and options appraisal and a breakdown of days and daily rates. If more than one person is to be involved, the lead person must be available for interview and should be able to supply full CVs of all those to be involved with a breakdown of days and day rates for each member of the team.

12. Skills and experience

You must have proven project management skills, ideally in heritage-related projects, and be able to demonstrate experience of working within a complex heritage and regeneration environment. Communication and negotiation abilities are essential. You must have practical experience of writing feasibility and options appraisals, working with local government and voluntary sector organisations.

13. Performance measures/evaluation

Milestones will be agreed with the successful consultant[s] with the lead contact for this work, Northamptonshire County Council’s Cultural Policy and Planning Officer. These milestones will include the signing off of the final report by the Northampton Alive Project Board.

14. Submissions

Please submit your proposal and any accompanying documentation of any related work undertaken by Friday 21 December 2012. You should include the names of two referees. Submissions can be sent as hard copy or emailed to the office at the address given below. For an informal discussion in advance you are welcome to speak to Graham Callister Northamptonshire County Council’s Cultural Policy & Planning Officer.

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It is anticipated that interviews will be held in the week beginning the 7th January 2013. It is expected that the scoping study should be started by mid/end January and completed by the end of March 2013.

Submissions should be sent to Graham Callister by 21 December 2012. Submissions will be reviewed by the partners.

Room 84 County Hall George Row NORTHAMPTON

Developing the ‘heritage gateway’ offer for central Northampton FINAL Appendix

Developing the ‘heritage gateway’ offer for central Northampton FINAL

Visit Northampton Alive website for details of plans for Northampton regeneration