Station Plans Revealed

A new railway station for Northampton is a step closer, as architects reveal their vision for the transport hub.

The station will be an "iconic" and "inspiring" gateway to the town, according to officials at the regeneration body WNDC.

It says the present station building, which dates back to the 1960s, is out-of-date, and stopping the economy of Northampton growing.

These pictures by BDP Architects show what's planned: a new station building, a multi-storey car park, a new footbridge, new shelters on the platforms, and new approach roads.  Later on, the plan is to build shops or offices on land around the station.

With money tight, the consultants working on the revamp say they've had to think laterally to build the station more cheaply than originally planned.

One of the big changes they've come up with is moving the station building much closer to the road bridge, so pedestrians can get straight into it from Black Lion Hill.  It means passengers can keep using the old station while the new one is worked on, which should minimise disruption.

The plans are still only at the "outline" stage, and no date has yet been given for work to start.