Regeneration projects give town a 'new lease of life'

The Grosvenor Centre has seen stores like House of Frazer leave in recent years but others, like Primark, have arrived

A shopping centre director has said regeneration projects have put his town at "the forefront of what a modern, vibrant 21st century town centre needs to be".

Greg Norman from the Grosvenor Centre in Northampton was speaking after his appointment to the town's Business Improvement District (BID) board.

He said the projects in Market Square, Abington Street and Fish Street were having "a real impact on people's perceptions of the town".

A banker and a restauranteur have also joined the BID board.

Businesses pay a levy to Northampton BID that is used to deliver events, initiatives and projects to promote the town centre.

Companies voted in 2021 to renew the BID until 2026.

In the last few years, the town has seen several renovation projects get underway, including improvements to the Market Square, Abington Street and Fish Street.

The Market Square reopened last week after a £12m facelift, which brought new stalls, lights and paving.

There have also been setbacks, including the departures of BHS, Marks & Spencer, Debenhams and Next.

Greg Norman from the Grosvenor Centre said Northampton was beginning to "unlock its potential"

Mr Norman said the improvement projects were "having a real impact on people's perceptions.

"It’s only a start, but people can see the upward trajectory that this path is tracking, and it is beginning to unlock the potential that our town centre so clearly has.

"We are now starting to realise different ways [town centres] can be used and that natural evolution has begun, with Northampton very much at the forefront of what a modern, vibrant 21st century town centre needs to be.”

Kerry Reynolds from Metro Bank said Northampton was now being used as an "exemplar nationally of how to regenerate an ailing town centre"

Kerry Reynolds from Metro Bank, who is also joining the BID board, said: “Northampton has had a tough decade or so but we’re on the way back, and I see our town being used as an exemplar nationally of how to regenerate an ailing town centre, giving it a new lease of life and meeting the demands of the modern consumer, business and resident.”

Naz Islam from the Saffron restaurant said: "The next few years have the potential to be hugely exciting for our town centre"

Naz Islam, who owns the Saffron restaurant in Castilian Street, said: "The next few years have the potential to be hugely exciting for our town centre, and I want to make sure things are done right so that both shoppers and businesses have a town centre they want to visit.”