A PUBLIC consultation about the proposed re-development of the North Stand at Franklin’s Gardens will take place next week.
Members of the club’s management and stadium design team will be at the Heroes Lounge at the ground between 5.30pm and 10pm on Thursday, July 5, and again between 10am and 2pm on Saturday, July 7, to discuss the plans with residents and businesses.
Detailed plans will also be on show and people will have the chance to share their thoughts on all aspects of the development.
These will then be collated and issued to the planning authority as part of the planning application in the autumn.
Although aimed at residents and businesses from the St James area, the club is inviting all interested people from across Northampton to see for themselves how the proposed new North Stand will look.
All the information will also be contained in a leaflet which will shortly be distributed to businesses and residents in the area immediately surrounding Franklin’s Gardens.
Saints vice-chairman Tony Hewitt, who is managing the development on behalf of the club, said: “We have been a part of the St James community for well over a century and intend to stay here for many more years.
“This is why we believe it is important to give residents and members of the business community the opportunity not just to see the plans for themselves but to have the ability to contribute to the planning process and discuss their thoughts with the club’s management and design team as well.
“The new North Stand is an integral part of our plans not just to keep top class English and European rugby in Northampton, but enable us to invest more into our award-winning community programme and study centre which helps tens of thousands of people across both the town and county each year.
“We are excited to be in the position where we can move the planning process onto the next step and look forward to discussing the plans with the local community in the first week of July.”
Residents and businesses can also give their feedback online via the stadium development section of the club’s website www.northamptonsaints.co.uk