Northampton car park to lose 160 spaces during Greyfriars work

Parking changes announced for Northampton town centre car parks

Northampton car park to lose 160 spaces for Greyfriars archaeological work Upper Mounts Car Park in Northampton is set for temporary closures and reduced parking capacity as archaeological investigations begin ahead of the proposed Greyfriars regeneration scheme. The car park will temporarily close for one day on 1 September before partially reopening from 2 September. Around 160 spaces will then be unavailable while archaeological trenching and site investigations take place. The work is expected to continue for up to two months, meaning motorists using Upper Mounts Car Park will face reduced parking availability during the investigation period. A further 36 spaces at Newlands Car Park will also be temporarily affected while survey work is carried out. Parking changes in Northampton town centre The investigations form part of preparations for the Greyfriars scheme, with the work taking place ahead of the submission of a hybrid planning application for the regeneration project. For drivers, the immediate impact will be the loss of a significant number of parking spaces at Upper Mounts Car Park while the investigations are under way. The council has said alternative town centre parking remains available for motorists during the temporary restrictions. Temporary signage will also be installed to help drivers find alternative places to park and navigate the affected areas. The first closure is scheduled for 1 September, when Upper Mounts Car Park will temporarily shut for the day. From 2 September, part of the car park will close for the archaeological work. The investigations are expected to last for up to two months, although the information provided does not give a specific completion date. Motorists planning to visit Northampton town centre during this period may therefore need to allow extra time to find a parking space, particularly when Upper Mounts Car Park is operating with reduced capacity. The temporary changes will also affect Newlands Car Park, where 36 spaces will be unavailable while survey work is undertaken. The parking restrictions are linked directly to the preparatory work for the Greyfriars regeneration scheme rather than a permanent change to the town centre parking arrangements. Drivers are being directed towards alternative parking facilities while the archaeological teams carry out their investigations. The work will provide information needed ahead of the planned hybrid planning application for the Greyfriars scheme, marking another step in preparations for the wider regeneration project. For now, motorists should pay attention to temporary signs around the affected car parks and consider alternative town centre parking while the investigations continue.