Agenda item

The Principal Planning Officer presented the report which sought approval for improvement works to the Market Square, including the installation of a water feature, permanent above ground tiered seating, 18 permanent market stalls, tree planting, re-laying of cobbles, new paving and new lighting. There were no statutory objections, subject to conditions, and there were 7 letters of objection received, including from the Civic Society. 4 petitions had been submitted to the Council (not the LPA) in relation to the Market Square regeneration which were outlined in the report, these petitions had garnered approximately 10,000 signatures in total. Members’ attention was drawn to the addendum which contained a further response from the Ecology Officer.

Eamonn Fitzpatrick, a market trader, addressed the Committee and spoke against the application. He advised he was representing 16,000 people that signed a petition. He believed that the Council saw the Market Square as an event space and suggested that public money was being wasted, noting that the proposed water feature would cost £700,000. He stated that traders had been consulted but not listened to. Mr Fitzpatrick further stated that existing antisocial behaviour issues would be exacerbated with the additional seating proposed.

In response to a question, Mr Fitzpatrick advised that the current water feature was a magnet for antisocial behaviour; it was subject to frequent vandalism and was not operational much of the time.

Clive Surman, on behalf of the Civic Society for Northampton, addressed the Committee and spoke against the application. He commented that the proposed layout was not appropriate given the key features of the Market Square. He believed that the proposed design, including the lighting, was too contemporary and would become dated in a relatively short time; a design such as the All Saints’ Church portico would better suit the Market Square. Mr Surman also believed that the proposed trees would create shade in unwelcome areas and that the permanent stalls would reduce the overall flexibility of the Market Square.

In response to a question, Mr Surman advised that the Civic Society had also submitted comments to the plans for Market Walk. He stated that the 2 proposals should be looked at together.

Jamie Chalmers, the Project Manager for the Market Square redevelopment, addressed the Committee and spoke in favour of the application. He commented that extensive consultation had taken place to secure funding; the consultation had formed the design of the proposed development. Tree planting and green roofs on the fixed market stalls were a key feature of the proposal, and the hard surfacing had been carefully selected to match the surrounding buildings. The fixed market stalls would provide space for storage, and the pop-up stalls would be taken down each night. The proposed lighting would provide more uniform light across the entire Market Square.

In response to questions, Mr Chalmers advised that the water feature designer had delivered several other water features across the country. Regular safety checks would be undertaken, and spare parts would be readily available if they were needed; the plant room would be above ground for ease of access. The water would be recycled and regularly treated. He further advised that bi-monthly meetings had taken place with market traders, and the proposal incorporated as many of their suggestions and requirements as possible. The cleaning regime would be intensified following completion of the development. It was estimated that the water feature would cost approximately £20,000 per year to run. The Market Manager would be responsible for the storage of pop-up stalls; this would be tendered work, and anticipated management issues were currently being investigated. With regards to antisocial behaviour, Mr Chalmers advised that a lot of antisocial behaviour took place under the cover of the current market stalls; the removal of the new pop-up stalls each night would remove this issue. Additional CCTV was also proposed across the Market Square, and more people using the Market during the day would provide passive surveillance. There were accessibility concerns regarding the use of the existing cobblestones; careful consideration was needed as to how best use these safely.

In response to questions, the Principal Planning Officer advised that a Category B tree to the south of the Market Square would be removed to allow the nearby Category A tree to flourish. He further noted that the Police had raised no objection to the application, subject to the addition of a condition relating to lighting.

Members discussed the report and made the following comments:

·       The design was too modern and would suit somewhere like Milton Keynes better; the application did not make the most of Northampton’s history.

·       The Market Square may look dated in a relatively short time.

·       The funding received was specifically for the regeneration of the Market Square.

·       The cobbles were dangerous and in need of changing.

·       Antisocial behaviour would not improve without improvements to the Market Square.

·       Local people should have had more say in the design.

Councillor Lane proposed and Councillor Choudary seconded that the officer recommendation be approved. The recommendation contained within the report was put to a vote and declared carried with 9 votes for and 1 against.

RESOLVED:

That the application be APPROVED subject to the conditions and reasons as set out in the report.