The town’s strategic position in the East Midlands, within convenient travelling time to London, Birmingham, East Anglia and the North, is just one of the reasons housebuilders are working hard to keep up with demand for new homes in Northampton.
Northampton Alive is the name of the long-term project to regenerate the town, taking on a diverse array of tasks such as the creation of modern office space, the updating of the town centre, the provision of modern shopping facilities and the enhancement of historic sites, among many others. A host of schemes have already been completed.
Northampton’s station has been regenerated and provides some excellent connections – three trains an hour to London Euston (a fastest journey time of just 46 minutes) and the same number to Birmingham New Street (from 61 minutes). A monthly season ticket to London costs £519.60 (£5,412 without Tube travel annually), with Milton Keynes 14 minutes away (£180.90 monthly, £1,884.00 annually); while Birmingham costs £202.40 monthly and £2,108 annually.
It’s a town with a lot to offer its residents. The Cultural Quarter includes venues such as The Royal Theatre and the Errol Flynn Filmhouse as well as the NN Contemporary Arts venue. Northampton currently plays host to a number of events to celebrate its cultural diversity including the Northampton Carnival. The Sixfields Leisure Park has restaurants, pubs, a cinema, ga ym and other facilities, and there are plenty of enjoyable open and more natural soces, such as Abingdon Park, Upton County Park and Hunsbury Hill Country Park. The town is also home to professional football and rugby union teams.
There are several popular primary schools around the town including Castle Academy and Bridgewater Primary School. Co-educational secondary schools include Kingsthorpe College, Abbeyfield School and the Malcolm Arnold Academy. Single sex schools include Northampton School for Boys and Northampton School for Girls and Billing Brook special school. Independent schools include Northampton High School for girls and co-ed St Peter’s.
Northampton is close to the M1, giving quick and easy access to London, 68 miles away and 1hr 40 minutes by road, and to the North. Birmingham Airport is an hour's drive, Luton Airport about 50 minutes along the motorway. Heathrow is around 82 minutes away via the M1 and M25.
Among the new homes for sale in Northampton now are:
In the south-west of the town, within easy reach of the M1, is Dragonfly Meadows from Taylor Wimpey, where a new primary school opens with 420 places this September. The site will appeal not only to families, however, as there is a diverse range of two- to five-bedroom homes to choose from. The housebuilder offers a range of assistance schemes, including the popular government-backed Help to Buy scheme. Prices start at £220,000 and the site is open 10.30am to 5.30pm daily.
Last weekend, Martin Grant Homes opened a new phase at its Buckton Fields development in Boughton, on the northern fringes of the town. This scheme comprises 188 homes in all, with 48 of them in this second phase, initially a mix of three-, four- and five-bedroom properties. Prices start from £275,000 for a three-bedroom home.
Bloor Homes is also building in this area with a development of the same name. This housebuilder is currently offering three- and four-bedroom homes priced from £277,500, with Help to Buy available.
Help to Buy is also available through Keepmoat at its Upton Place development at an eco-friendly neighbourhood in the west of Northampton, just three miles from its centre. Prices are yet to be released on the next phase, but are expected soon as the company continues its work on this 324-unit development that will bring a range of properties, from two-bedroom starter homes to five-bedroom family and executive houses.
Westleigh launched a new show home Butterfields in March, with high demand right from the start, and 14 of 18 homes in the first phase already reserved at that point. The development will bring a mix of two-, three- and four-bedroom homes to the Boothville district of north-east Northampton. The four-bedroom family properties are the current centre of attention, with prices starting at £325,000. The site is open daily for visitors.
North-west of the town is Woodlands @ Harlestone Manor, where Orbit is offering a range of starter homes on a Shared Ownership basis. Prices currently start at £86,800, for a 40% share of a three-bedroom terraced home. Each home has an excellent standard specification, while the location is convenient for countryside, the town centre and the M1 – so perfect for local workers or commuters.
Persimmon has two developments in Northampton currently. Lime Tree Gardens offers three-, four- and five-bedroom homes in the northern Kingsthorpe suburb, priced from £227,950; Marina Gardens has four- and five-bedroom houses priced from £299,950.