Revamping Northampton
What was going on?
One of the UK’s largest town centre brownfield sites, spanning 15 acres, in the heart of Northampton.
Rather than impose ideas to the public, West Northamptonshire Council wanted to shaping the site by the people, for the people, ensuring its successful regeneration.
How we helped
Through a multi-stage engagement, Stage One enabled the opportunity to hear from local people, inviting their ideas to the table to inform the design moving forward.
Evolving the story, Stage Two reflected on feedback from the first stage, its influence on the plans, taking users on an interactive journey through the site to show how Greyfriars could transform over the coming years. In-person events enabled participation from a wider audience, including those passing by.
An extensive communication campaign pulled in a significant audience, with a combined 601 online consultation hours, equivalent to 15 full days of in-person events.
Communication Strategy
Reaching a Wider Audience
“C’mon, let’s Amp Northampton!” – Most likely everyone in Northampton.
The communication campaign was nigh-on unavoidable. From billboards to shopfront posters, to Instagram posts and Spotify adverts (yes, you heard that right!), and even SMS texts. We worked tirelessly with West Northampton Council’s communications team to ensure every corner of the town had the opportunity to be informed on transforming Greyfriars.
The result? An astounding 500% increase in response rates compared to previous town-wide consultations, proving our methods resonated widely. With participation across all age groups and backgrounds, a genuinely representative spectrum of Northampton’s voices was heard.
Best of Both Worlds
Engaging Face-to-Face
We knew that digital access alone wouldn’t reach everyone.
To make Greyfriars accessible to all, we held a public showcase at the Grosvenor Shopping Centre. 3D models, artist renderings, and interactive displays, facilitated a mass of valuable discussions.
Over 680 members of the community visited us, celebrating the future of Greyfriars.
Gathering a diverse evidence base
10,000+ Individuals Engaged
2,500 Individual Respondents
