Executive NORTHAMPTON CASTLE STATION AREA: SITE
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Executive Item No 18th July 2005 Portfolio: NORTHAMPTON CASTLE Directorate: Living STATION AREA: Author/Contact Officer: SITE DEVELOPMENT PRINCIPLES Noreen Banks Senior Planning Officer Tel: (01604) 837835 Purpose of Report The purpose of this report is to seek Committee endorsement on the principles of development opportunities and regeneration for Northampton Castle Station and its surrounding areas. These principles have been outlined in the interim statement attached to this Committee report . Recommendation(s) It is recommended that; • the contents of the interim statement attached be agreed and • the statement be submitted as part of the consultants brief to prepare a feasibility study and masterplan for the area Summary and Links to Corporate Plan The interim statement establishes the principles of development options which is envisaged to secure the sustainable redevelopment and regeneration of the site. It is anticipated that the principles and options, once translated into a masterplan, could significantly improve the physical characteristics of Northampton Station, meet current and future passenger demand, achieve a sustainable multi-modal network, and contribute towards the housing and employment requirements set out in Regional Spatial Strategy 8 and the Milton Keynes South Midlands South Regional Strategy. The Corporate Plan refers to the fact that Northampton is one of the areas chosen by the Government to deliver economic, social and housing growth under the Sustainable Communities Plan. The redevelopment of the Station and surrounding areas gives the Borough Council an opportunity to play a strong and influential role in securing the best outcome for the area and the town as a whole. The whole project has, to date, involved partnership working and communication between the Borough Council , County Council, the West Northamptonshire Development Corporation, Network Rail and Invest Northamptonshire. The Corporate Plan acknowledges that partnership working delivers better and more efficient services for Northampton’s citizens. 1. Background 1.1 The Council’s existing adopted Local Plan (June 1997) allocates the Castle Station sidings as a development site, advocating residential or business use. This has not come forward during the lifetime of the Plan to date. Work is already underway towards preparing the new Local Development Framework. The rail station is identified within the Milton Keynes and South Midlands sub regional strategy as offering a significant opportunity for development as a transport interchange and focus for commercial and residential development. 1.2 The establishment of the West Northamptonshire Development Corporation has already provided an catalyst to bring the relevant parties together, explore ways to implement development. 2. Introduction 2.1 Representatives from Northampton Borough Council, Northamptonshire County Council, West Northamptonshire Development Corporation, Network Rail and Silverlink met on the 19th April this year to: • discuss the potential of Northampton Station and its surrounding areas. A working paper on the development options was prepared and circulated at that time for discussion • identify the way forward in bringing together the relevant stakeholders and making a commitment towards regenerating the area • address the fundamental issue of funding • consider the need to appoint consultants to prepare a masterplan 2.2 The station site and surrounding areas are owned predominantly by Network Rail, who has leased most of the land to Silverlink and the Freight Operating Companies. The Borough Council owns only a small section of the area. A further meeting was held on the 6th June to address land ownership issues and the appointment of consultants. 2.3 It was agreed at the meeting in June that consultants should be appointed to prepare a masterplan, based on the principles of development options outlined in the interim statement attached. The purpose of appointing the consultant is to test the principles outlined in the statement and to identify how deliverable the project would be. 3. Summary of Principles and Masterplan 3.1 The principles outlined stemmed from a range of requirements including those contained in the Regional Spatial Strategy 8, the Milton Keynes South Midlands and the Local Transport Plan 2001-5. The train station and passenger and freight operating companies occupy the land. Their requirements, including accommodating the need of passengers and possible relocation of freight operations must also be accounted for in planning the regeneration of the whole site. 3.2 It was agreed that the site development principles as attached should form a guideline for consultants who will be appointed to prepare a Masterplan for the area. It is expected that the Masterplan will present creative and innovative ideas on how these principles can be realistically applied and subsequently implemented on site. The Masterplan will focus on securing design of the highest quality. The development area consists of a larger area than that advocated for development in the Local Plan. It is shown on the plan at the end of the appendix and applies to all land bounded by Black Lion Hill, St Andrew’s Road, Spencer Bridge Road and the river. It therefore includes the station itself, all existing car parking areas, goods yards and sidings, together with the Café and Truck facility established on land owned by this Council 3.3 The Masterplan should help develop, the following matters which form the key principles for the development of the site as contained in the attached document: • How the existing and future needs and demands of services at Northampton Station (including passenger trains and additional car parking) can be addressed • The creative redevelopment of the station worthy of its location as a gateway to Northampton • The development of a sustainable and functional multi-modal network capable serving all modes of transport to encourage more users and to improve the junctions leading into and out of the station area • An innovative combined development comprising employment and residential uses, and a limited amount of ancillary retail 3.4 A consultants brief will be prepared by the County Council. The brief will outline the range of work that the consultants are expected to produce. The statement will guide consultants on the types of development and aspirations that both the County and Borough Council would wish to see on site. The statement has been produced in conjunction with the County Council as local transport authority and with the approval of all parties as the basis for further work. 4. Financial Implications 4.1 Funds to pay for the consultants work will be applied from the ODPM Growth Area “Fit for Market” funding. 5. Social Impact 5.1 The whole project will bring significant benefits to residents, investors and visitors in Northampton. First, it would improve train services and facilities for people who need to use the service for work, businesses or travel. Secondly, residents would benefit from an improved station, one that they would be proud of. It could become a landmark building within the main gateway into the town centre. It will improve visitor perception of the area if their first impression of the gateway is a positive one. Thirdly, residents would benefit from increased housing which is accessible to a series of sustainable modes of transport. There will be elements of affordable housing within the scheme and this will have a positive impact on people who might not otherwise be able to get on the first rung of the property ladder. Fourthly, investors would benefit from an increase in employment premises which are on public transport nodes. 6. Conclusions 6.1 In order to achieve an innovative Masterplan that would take on board the Government’s requirements as outlined in the Sustainable Communities Plan and the Council’s aspirations for sustainable development combining both land use and integrated transport, the development principles outlined in the statement attached should be endorsed. 7. Consultees (Internal & External) Internal: Estates External: Northamptonshire County Council, Network Rail, Invest Northamptonshire 8. Background Papers 8.1 None NORTHAMPTON CASTLE STATION AND SURROUNDING AREA: PRINCIPLES AND OPTIONS FOR SITE DEVELOPMENT – An Interim Statement Prepared by Northampton Borough Council Sustainable Communities Planning Bedford Road Northampton NN4 7NR July 2005 1. INTRODUCTION 1.1 This paper identifies the future development and regeneration opportunities and options at Northampton’s Castle Station and its surrounding area. This paper has been prepared by Northampton Borough Council, in conjunction with Northamptonshire County Council. The principles outlining the range of opportunities for the Station site and its surrounding areas contained in this paper have been discussed with the West Northamptonshire Development Corporation and relevant interested parties including Network Rail, Invest Northamptonshire and Silverlink. 1.2 It was initially drafted as a working paper to assist in dialogue with the site owners and to seek to establish a way forward to achieve significant enhancement and development of the station area to support the growth proposals for Northampton. 1.3 The options outlined in this paper establishes the aspirations and principles of development options which it is envisaged would significantly improve the physical characteristics of Northampton Station, meet current and future passenger demand, achieve