Kettering town centre £500,000 revamp starts next week

The Kettering High Street Heritage Action Zone (HSHAZ) project will see £4m improve the town centre
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A further stage of improvements to the street scene of Kettering will start next week using additional £500,000 of Historic England funding, awarded to North Northamptonshire Council (NNC) in February.

The successful bid for funding will see the new paving and benches already installed in High Street, Gold Street, West Street and Meadow Road extended.

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Current block paving will be ripped up and new slabs laid from the junctions of Dryland Street (Bewiched) to Crispin Place (The Bean Hive).

The old paving and the new - in Kettering High StreetThe old paving and the new - in Kettering High Street
The old paving and the new - in Kettering High Street

It's part of the Kettering High Street Heritage Action Zone (HSHAZ) project, a £4m partnership between NNC and Historic England, to improve the town centre.

Cllr David Brackenbury, the North Northants Council’s executive member for growth and regeneration, said: “I am so pleased that Historic England have recognised the high quality of the scheme and that work can continue along the High Street. Once finished, this work will make a real difference to Kettering and breathe new life into the town centre.”

The additional phase will have the same materials and design principles already used along the High Street.

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Cllr Jason Smithers, Leader of the Council, added: “Throughout this project, the aim has always been to encourage people to visit and stay a while in Kettering, using the businesses and services across the town. By the end of this phase the work will really showcase Kettering’s heritage and help improve footfall in the town. I cannot wait to see the end result.”

Kettering High Street has had a new surface and planters and benchesKettering High Street has had a new surface and planters and benches
Kettering High Street has had a new surface and planters and benches

Street scene improvements began in January along the southern end of the High Street, Meadow Road and Gold Street, with all work now due to be completed by Autumn 2022.

Louise Brennan, Historic England’s regional director – Midlands, said: “The improvements to the public realm on Kettering’s High Street are really impressive – the quality of the design and materials perfectly compliment the many historic buildings that give the town centre its strong character. We are delighted there is more proposed work to come to continue this enhanced public realm as part of the High Street Heritage Action Zone.”

NNC have warned that during the improvement works, there is likely to be some disruption for pedestrians, but workers will ensure this is kept to a ‘minimum’.