carl
West Northamptonshire Council is poised to sign a partnership agreement with ECF – a joint venture between Legal & General, Homes England, and Muse – to regenerate a significant 14-acre brownfield site in Northampton Town Centre. This regeneration project will focus on the Greyfriars area, which includes the former Greyfriars Bus Station site, demolished in 2015, along with several key landmarks such as the Mayorhold and Victoria Street Car Parks, Corn Exchange, Belgrave House, and East and West Island.
The agreement will allow the partnership to explore planning, delivery, and funding opportunities for the project, with formal approvals from ECF and the Council expected by summer 2025. The plans, developed with the assistance of Studio Egret West and Homes England, propose a variety of uses for the space, including a potential arts and culture hub at the Corn Exchange and a workplace and business incubator at Belgrave House. Public spaces such as a new outdoor amphitheatre are also envisioned, alongside new homes, shops, cafes, and restaurants.
The regeneration project is expected to have a substantial economic impact, generating an estimated £1 billion in economic value and creating up to 7,000 full-time equivalent jobs during construction. Additionally, it is projected that new residents and visitors could contribute an extra £21 million to Northampton’s economy.
Sir Michael Lyons, chair of ECF, highlighted the potential of the Greyfriars site to drive social and economic value, noting that the collaboration with West Northamptonshire Council could unlock significant opportunities. ECF, now managing a £400 million portfolio, is eager to support the development of a sustainable regeneration plan.
Cllr Dan Lister, Cabinet Member for Local Economy, Culture, and Leisure, remarked that the partnership marks an exciting step in the broader transformation of Northampton, which already includes redevelopment projects in the Market Square and other areas such as Four Waterside and Marefair. Lister emphasised the Council’s commitment to revitalising public spaces and expressed confidence in ECF’s expertise to help bring the Greyfriars vision to life.
