Restoring bus depot will 'boost' town - council

A derelict bus depot will boost a town's economy when it is revived as a housing scheme after being vacant for over a decade, a local authority has said.

West Northamptonshire Council received £1.368m from the government's Brownfield Land Release Fund (BLRF) to restore the St James Bus Depot, fronting the A4500 in Northampton.

Work on the derelict building is expected to begin in autumn 2025 and will take up to a year to complete.

"This redevelopment is a fantastic opportunity to transform a gateway site into Northampton town centre," said Dan Lister, Conservative cabinet member for local economy, culture and leisure.

"By revitalising the St James Depot site, we are not only preserving the historical significance of the Transport Office but also creating much-needed housing and boosting the local economy."

The council has identified a need for quality housing in the area, but a council report said developing this site posed a range of "significant challenges".

Its cabinet will meet on next Tuesday to discuss the next phase of plans and assign contractors.

Contracts for the repair work must be signed by the end of March in order for the funding to be released.

The vision for the project includes the retention of the original tram facades, with "tramshed terraces" in between, and newbuild maisonettes and townhouses across the rest of the site.

The council will then seek a development partner for the housing scheme once the remedial works have finished.

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