Northampton is one of the most exciting and fast growing towns in the UK - and the perfect place to launch a DAB radio service.
Northampton is the county town of Northamptonshire, located in the East Midlands. Strategically located midway between London and Birmingham, it has significant potential to drive the growth of the wider region.
With a proud history of manufacturing and craft, focused on leather and shoemaking, Northampton is now the largest town in England with a population of 225,100 (in 2018).
Transport Links
Northampton benefits from exceptional transport connectivity: The M1 connects Northampton with London and the North. The West Coast Main Line (WCML) provides direct rail services to London Euston, Birmingham and Crewe and HS2 will provide an opportunity to improve WCML services to Northampton. Northampton is located 34 miles from Luton airport and 39 miles from Birmingham International airport.
Oxford-Cambridge Arc
Northampton is situated centrally in the globally significant Oxford-Cambridge Arc, a strategic focus of investment for both government and the private sector. In partnership with national government, the Arc can double its economic output by 2050 to over £200bn.
The Town is home to exceptional anchor institutions
The University of Northampton and St Andrew’s Hospital are major employers and anchor institutions. The University’s new £330 million Waterside Campus provides a new engineering building, creative hub and student accommodation in the centre of Northampton. Northampton College is one of the largest Further Education (FE) colleges in the South Midlands, with two campuses in the town. Moulton FE College is also located to the north of Northampton.
Employers
Northampton is home to the headquarters of a range of large employers such as Barclaycard, Carlsberg, Avon, Cosworth, Travis Perkins, and several members of the Midlands Aerospace Alliance. High Performance Engineering and Advanced Manufacturing Northampton is recognised by the South East Midlands Local Enterprise Partnership (SEMLEP) as one of the key economic contributors to the region, pursuing high-growth strategies in the automotive sector, high-performance engineering, logistics and advanced manufacturing.
Northampton Waterside Enterprise Zone
Many of our larger employers are located at the 120-hectare Northampton Waterside Enterprise Zone. The potential to retain and reinvest business rates associated with the Enterprise Zone over the next 18 years provides a significant opportunity to support further expansion to meet the needs of Northampton’s current and future businesses.
Enterprise Parks
There are prospering industrial and enterprise parks surrounding the town, including the Brackmills and Moulton Park industrial estates. These attract employment across a variety of sectors, including construction, logistics, wholesale and professional services.
Heritage and Cultural Assets
Northampton is a market town established in the Middle Ages with the construction of Northampton Castle. The town’s Market Square is one of Britain’s largest and most historic, dating back to 1235, and the area is surrounded by architecturally significant buildings linked to past industry. Historically, Northampton has been as a major centre of shoemaking and leather manufacturing. Since WW1 this has dramatically shifted, although the town still boasts a large cluster of the finest shoe manufacturers in the world.
Natural Environment
The town is situated on the River Nene and surrounded by the Northampton countryside. Northampton has a network of prestigious and award winning parks including Abington Park, Beckets Park, Hunsbury Hill, the Racecourse, Upton Country Park and the Wetland Special Protection Area, all within walking distance of the town centre.
Food and Drink
Food and drink sellers, independent retail and innovative social enterprise are the foundation of the Town Centre economy with a focus on the Grosvenor Centre, St Giles’ Street, Wellingborough Road and the area surrounding the Market Square.