Northampton Car Parks Partly Close Until October for Greyfriars Works

Town Centre Parking Hit as Northampton Car Parks Close for Surveys

Northampton Town Centre Car Parks Partly Close for Two Months Two Northampton town centre car parks are facing partial closures for around two months while archaeological investigations are carried out as part of preparations for the Greyfriars regeneration scheme. Upper Mounts Car Park will be fully closed for one day on 1 September before the partial closure begins, while Newlands Car Park will also have spaces unavailable during the works. Around half of the parking spaces at the two sites will be unavailable until at least the end of October, creating a temporary reduction in town centre parking. Approximately 160 spaces at Upper Mounts will be out of use, while 36 spaces at Newlands will also be temporarily affected while survey work takes place. The investigations are being carried out by West Northamptonshire Council and English Cities Fund (ECF) as they prepare for a proposed redevelopment around the former bus station site. The Greyfriars regeneration scheme could include more than 100 new homes on the sites of Upper Mounts and Newlands car parks, alongside improvements to public spaces and new commercial opportunities. The temporary parking closures come shortly after the Mayorhold multi-storey car park was abruptly closed for safety reasons, adding to changes affecting parking provision in the town centre. Despite the closures, the council said more than 1,000 parking spaces remain available at its other sites, including the Grosvenor Centre and St Michael's multi-storey car parks and Campbell Square. Drivers heading into Northampton town centre should therefore allow extra time to find a space and consider the alternative car parks while the archaeological work is taking place. The council said the works had been planned to minimise the impact on parking users, with the aim of affecting the smallest possible number of spaces for the shortest possible period. The archaeological surveys are intended to establish more about the significance of the area and ensure any discoveries are properly recorded and considered as plans for the redevelopment progress. ECF development director Glyn Mutton described the surveys as an important milestone in progressing the Greyfriars plans, while acknowledging that the closures would affect car park users. The council hopes parts of the affected parking areas may be able to reopen before the Christmas period, although the temporary closures are currently expected to continue until at least the end of October. For motorists who regularly park in Northampton town centre, the changes mean alternative parking may be needed during the works, while the wider regeneration project continues to move forward.