Plans on show for Northampton’s new Marina attraction
September 30th, 2009
Item submitted by: Northampton Borough Council
The proposed marina in Becket’s Park could soon be a reality as the planning application for the facility was submitted on Monday 28 September. If successful, construction could begin as early as February 2010 with completion by March 2011.
Alongside the statutory consultation, the people of Northampton will have the opportunity to see the plans close up at an exhibition at Northampton Borough Council’s Cliftonville offices on Bedford Rd. Officers will also be available to answer questions during two drop-in sessions - on Thursday 8 October between 12pm and 5pm and Wednesday 14 October between 12pm and 5pm.
Key elements of the first phase of the Becket’s Park vision are an eighty-two berth Marina with associated facilities and short-term vehicular access for off loading by boat users. Six of the moorings will be for residential use, of which one will be for the marina manager. The remaining berths will be available for short term visitors and pleasure craft requiring long term leases. Moorings will also be available for operators of commercial leisure boats, such as hire boats and water taxis. As part of the long term plans to develop Northampton into the market city, later phases to the Becket's Park project could deliver new landscaping, lighting, café's and restaurants and provide a busy, exciting link between the town centre and the waterside.
Cllr Richard Church, Cabinet Member for Regeneration at Northampton Borough Council, commented: “This project is all about giving Northampton residents and visitors a charming attraction as well as getting the best out of Becket’s Park, just one of our town's very beautiful urban parks. Boat users navigating from the Grand Union Canal through to the Fens network will be able to moor safely, explore Northampton’s heritage and visit our shops and all our other facilities - it's an exciting time for the future of Northampton.”
The Environment Agency (EA) is responsible for designing, constructing and operating the marina. Paul Arnold, project manager at the Environment Agency commented: "The marina will be a vibrant and engaging waterspace for the town. We want the marina to be a 'must stop' destination for boaters on the River Nene, putting Northampton on the map as a regionally important inland boating destination. By opening the disused boating lake up to the main river, the marina will also provide a new sheltered habitat for fish."
The Environment Agency is submitting the application to West Northamptonshire Development Corporation (WNDC) on behalf of the Beckets Park Partnership, which was formed to oversee the development and progress of potential developments. The Environment Agency, Northampton Borough Council, West Northamptonshire Development Corporation, Northamptonshire Enterprise Limited (NEL), River Nene Regional Park (RNRP) and Northamptonshire County Council (NCC) make up the partnership group. WNDC’s Northampton Planning Committee will determine the application later in this year.
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