New park on castle site will 'celebrate heritage'

Dr Marie Dickie, from the Friends of Northampton Castle, said the park would "celebrate the history" of the area

A new park due to be built in a historic area of a town will "celebrate the heritage of the area", a campaigner said.

The Marefair Heritage Park project in Northampton is to be built on the Chalk Lane car park site near the town's railway station.

The park will lie in the shadow of Castle Mound, once the site of the historically significant Northampton Castle.

Dr Marie Dickie, from the Friends of Northampton Castle group, said the park would benefit children in "one of the most densely populated areas of Northampton".

She said: "This [park] is not for the benefit of the odd archaeology or history buff like me.

"This is for everybody who enjoys a green space and would just be interested in what was here before."

The government's Towns Fund will give £1.5m towards the project which will have raised community gardens and a "heritage timeline" that would be lit at night.

Planning documents, submitted by West Northamptonshire Council, said the scheme would "address some of the negative perceptions of this area of the town".

The park will have a castle-themed playground area

The postern gate at Northampton railway station is all that remains of Northampton Castle

The origins of the site can be traced back to 1084 and served as the backdrop for numerous parliamentary gatherings in the Middle Ages.

Northampton Castle fell into decline in the 14th century and the site was levelled in the 19th century to make way for the railway station.

The existing car park is in the process of being removed to make way for the new green space, a castle-themed playground area, footpaths and a heritage mural to honour the local history.

It will form part of the wider Heritage Gateway Project aimed at transforming the approach to Northampton town centre from the railway station.

It was approved by planning officers on 14 May and work is due to start on the project in the summer.

It is hoped it will open in spring 2025.

The park will be built on the site of the former Chalk Lane car park