17/10/2012 11:24 AM
Improvement work at Northampton train station will get underway by the end of October as part of a major construction project within the Warwickshire area.
The new station is part of the 'Northampton Alive' scheme which aims to provide a considerable revamp of the town centre and will also help to improve links between the area and the rest of the UK.
Officials from Northampton Archaeology stated that evaluation work will now be carried out around the site which was originally the home to Northampton Castle.
This will take place between October 21st and 25th before the main construction earmarked for early 2013 and if all goes to plan then the new station will be open and operational by 2014.
Officials noted that the work will encompass surveying the grounds of a short-stay car park that is situated within the vicinity of the current station. In medieval times the cathedral was located on these premises, but as the facility was developed over time the structure may have been lost. Archaeologists want to assess the ground for potential artefacts, but maintained that this would only cause minimal disruption for station users.
The new £20 million station will be built in the Northampton Enterprise Zone and will be twice the size of the current facility. While plans just include the construction of the building, there are proposals in the pipeline for a 1,270 space multi-storey car park, as well as a 28,000 sq ft commercial property space boosting the potential for future business in Northampton.
Councillor Jim Harker, leader of Northamptonshire County Council, said: "The new station is central to the work to generate economic growth in Northampton and indeed Northamptonshire as a whole, and the county council is pleased to be able to play a pivotal role in bringing it forward. While its redevelopment is critical in helping kick-start our economy it is also an opportunity to really explore and better understand the rich heritage of this site."
Northampton is a key location in terms of services across the Midlands as it provides links to major cities such as Coventry and Birmingham, allowing commuters easier access to London.
See Jacksons experience on Perimeter security around train stations
The new station is part of the 'Northampton Alive' scheme which aims to provide a considerable revamp of the town centre and will also help to improve links between the area and the rest of the UK.
Officials from Northampton Archaeology stated that evaluation work will now be carried out around the site which was originally the home to Northampton Castle.
This will take place between October 21st and 25th before the main construction earmarked for early 2013 and if all goes to plan then the new station will be open and operational by 2014.
Officials noted that the work will encompass surveying the grounds of a short-stay car park that is situated within the vicinity of the current station. In medieval times the cathedral was located on these premises, but as the facility was developed over time the structure may have been lost. Archaeologists want to assess the ground for potential artefacts, but maintained that this would only cause minimal disruption for station users.
The new £20 million station will be built in the Northampton Enterprise Zone and will be twice the size of the current facility. While plans just include the construction of the building, there are proposals in the pipeline for a 1,270 space multi-storey car park, as well as a 28,000 sq ft commercial property space boosting the potential for future business in Northampton.
Councillor Jim Harker, leader of Northamptonshire County Council, said: "The new station is central to the work to generate economic growth in Northampton and indeed Northamptonshire as a whole, and the county council is pleased to be able to play a pivotal role in bringing it forward. While its redevelopment is critical in helping kick-start our economy it is also an opportunity to really explore and better understand the rich heritage of this site."
Northampton is a key location in terms of services across the Midlands as it provides links to major cities such as Coventry and Birmingham, allowing commuters easier access to London.
See Jacksons experience on Perimeter security around train stations
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