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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.