Becket's Park and Marina
A group was formed to oversee the development and progress of
potential developments in Becket's Park, Northampton. West
Northamptonshire Development Corporation, Northampton
Borough Council (NBC), River Nene Regional Park (RNRP), the
Environment Agency (EA), Northamptonshire Enterprise Limited (NEL)
and Northamptonshire County Council (NCC) make up the Becket's Park
Partnership and are already working together to develop the
plans.
In January 2009, Cabinet members at Northampton Borough Council
approved exciting new proposals for the park, including a
marina with permanent moorings. The ideas were initiated last year
as part of the development of a Becket's Park master plan, a
strategy document that sets the vision for the area.
WNDC's Board then approved almost £1.9 million of funding in
March 2009 to add to the Environment Agency's investment in
the project. If all funding is secured for Phase 1A of
the project, work could begin in Winter 2009.
It is proposed the key elements of Phase 1A, developing the
marina, will be as follows -
82 permanent moorings and associated facilities
Visitor moorings
A waterways management office and marina manager
Vehicular access and a car park for users to load craft
Construction of a new bridge
Image: Proposed new marina layout. Click on the
image to view pdf version
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.
Attracting new visitors by creating a new leisure facility in a
prime urban location will help to boost the local economy whilst
fulfilling the green space needs of local residents. It would
bring wider benefits to the town by putting Northampton on the map
as a waterways destination. 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.
Beckets Park’s key location successfully links the town centre
and the waterside. Improving the walking, cycling and boating
routes to the east and west of the town will help Northampton
become easier to get around and a more interesting destination for
residents and visitors.
Furthermore, Northampton is one of two areas shortlisted to host
the National Inland Waterways Festival in 2011. If successful, the
festival will celebrate the 40th anniversary of the festival
returning to the town and 250 years of the Nene being navigable
from Northampton to the Wash.
“Projects like the marina go a long way to support the
growth agenda. Green infrastructure really makes a difference to
how people spend time in the town where they live. Building a
marina will help attract new people to Northampton and we hope to
bring thousands of visitors in 2011 if the national Waterways
Festival is secured. WNDC will continue to work with partners to
create a busy and vibrant waterside.”
John Markham, Chairman of WNDC
Image: WNDC Board members on a recent visit to the site of the
marina in Becket's Park. From left to right: Cllr Tony Woods, John
Markham, John Weir, Cllr Chris Millar, Cllr Ben Smith, David
Dickinson, Nick Thompson