Conditional offer for Sixfields land passes rigorous analysis
Business, licensing and regeneration03 November 2021
Details of a development proposal resulting from a negotiation between West Northamptonshire Council and County Developments Northampton Ltd (CDNL) for land at Sixfields has been judged as viable and best value for the people of West Northamptonshire.
It would mean CDNL – which is owned by Northampton Town Football Club – could buy the land to the east of Sixfields Stadium on condition the East Stand is finished.
In the months since Northampton Borough Council was replaced by WNC, respected commercial property consultant Lambert Smith Hampton has independently assessed the site, along with an offer from CDNL.
The land at Sixfields requires extensive and costly remediation work before it can be developed, which limits its potential value, and Lambert Smith Hampton believes the most WNC could expect to get from any sale is £890,000.
Cllr Jonathan Nunn, WNC Leader, said: “It has been no secret that the club has been keen to buy and develop the land around the football stadium, and a crucial prerequisite of that for the council has always been that the East Stand needs to be completed first.
“We, like Northampton Borough Council before us, were clear that no deal could be actioned until work on the East Stand was completed.
“It is also extremely important that, if we sell the land to anyone, it has to provide the best value for the people of West Northamptonshire.
“Based on the independent assessment we commissioned, we are minded to agree a deal in principle, whereby CDNL will be able to buy the land for £890,000, but only when work on the stand is finished.
“This allows the club to restart that work with the confidence that, once it is concluded, CDNL can buy the land at the agreed price.”
The section of land which forms part of the deal is bounded by the stadium to the west, Walter Tull Way to the north, Tweed Road to the east and Edgar Mobbs Way to the south.
There will be a time limit on when the deal can be actioned and, if this is not met, the land will remain with West Northamptonshire Council.
This matter will be considered at Full Council on Thursday 2 December and then Cabinet on Tuesday 7 December.