Town council buys lease for Guildhall extension

The Guildhall extension was opened in 1992 by Queen Elizabeth II

A town council's use of a modern extension of a historical building has been secured after it agreed to buy the site's long-term lease.

In July West Northamptonshire Council said it was putting the 1992-built modern extension to the Victorian Guildhall in Northampton up for sale to save money.

Northampton Town Council has leased part of the Guildhall since 2021 and its councillors criticised the sale, as did Mike Reader, the Labour MP for Northampton South.

The town council has now agreed a long-term lease for the building and said it would protect and retain it for "community use".

The gothic 1864 Guildhall remains part of West Northamptonshire Council

Northampton Town Council said its councillors "unanimously" agreed to buy the lease, subject to a feasibility study and costings.

The authority added the purchase would allow it "to explore a future for the building as a community asset and office space, along with commercially let areas that support local service."

The new building is an extension of the historical Guildhall

Les Marriott, the chair of the town council's policy and finance committee and Labour leader, said: "The town council considers the Guildhall extension to be of architectural, civic and cultural importance and we are committed to safeguarding its future so it continues to reflect Northampton's heritage.

"We are working closely with West Northamptonshire Council and this agreement in principle allows us to explore how we can protect the building and develop it into an accessible civic asset that serves the needs of our community."

Mark Arnull, a Reform UK councillor and leader of West Northamptonshire Council, said it was a "mutually agreeable proposal that would see [the town council] remain in the Guildhall as we continue to renew relationships between the two authorities".

"Both councils are committed to working together to maximise public access to the building's rich heritage, including opportunities for community events and weddings," he added.