We win Council backing for people power in regeneration

Labour won Council backing for our call for more public involvement in the regeneration of Northampton town centre.

The Labour package put to September's Council meeting aimed at making sure that:

• Local people have a seat at the table in developing plans for Northampton regeneration

• The gateways to the town are improved, including in Kettering, Weedon and Harborough roads

• Care is taken about new housing in the town centre to avoid displacing existing communities

• Improvements to talking and cycling routes through town.

Cllr Keith Holland-Delamere said: "Regeneration cannot be done TO people. It has to be done WITH people." He said Labour group back regeneration of Northampton town centre to restore it as the economic hub for the surrounding area."

Cllr Enam Haque said the town centre had seen some botched regeneration projects, such as the new bus station which was always too small and is not fit for purpose."

Support also came from Cllr Zoe Smith, who welcomed the inclusion of Abington in the master plan for Northampton town centre regeneration, and Cllr Farzana Aldridge who highlighted the heritage sites in Kingsley and Semilong.

Labour Group leader Cllr Sally Keeble said Northampton Forward, the delivery vehicle for major regeneration projects had not met since December 2024. She called on the Council's Reform administration to set up a community subgroup to make sure that local people and communities had a structured involvement in the decisions about the town.