Progress on Sheep Street demolition paves way for reopening in new year

04 November 2025

West Northamptonshire Council is making strong progress on the demolition of the fire-damaged building on Sheep Street, Northampton, with the aim of reopening the road early in the new year at latest.

The building, formerly the Ex-Servicemen’s Club & Institute, was destroyed in a major fire on 30 March 2025, which is being treated as a suspected arson.

The blaze left the Grade II listed structure in a condemned state, spilling rubble into the street and forcing the closure of Sheep Street up to its junction with Church Lane.

Since then, we have worked closely with the charitable trust that owns the building to facilitate demolition. The process has involved careful coordination to address several challenges, including:

• Formal authorization and the timescale involved in getting the utilities disconnected safely
• Given the age of the building, licensed asbestos removal is being carried out in line with health and safety regulations
• Part of the collapsed structure fell onto a BT Openreach cabinet, severing internet and phone services to many nearby properties, and rubble has to be meticulously removed allowing engineers to safely access and repair the cabinet

Whilst we will cover the cost of the work, a charge on the land will enable us to recover costs associated with the demolition and clearance.

Cllr Richard Butler, Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport, said: “We understand how disruptive the closure of Sheep Street has been for residents and businesses, and we’re doing everything we can to get it reopened as soon as possible.

“Our teams are working closely with the demolition crew to move swiftly and safely, and we’re optimistic that the road will be back in use not far into the new year.

“While unforeseen complications can always arise with a site like this, we’re committed to keeping the community informed and making steady progress.”

Efforts have also been made to preserve any historically significant elements of the building, though early assessments suggest little remains that can be salvaged.

We will continue to provide updates as the project advances.