Northampton has won praise from a top politician for pushing ahead with redevelopment projects despite the recession.
The Conservative party’s vice chairman with special responsibility for local government, Bob Neill, visited the town on Monday.
During his visit, he toured both a construction site in St John’s where new student halls of residence are being built and a site next to the Derngate Theatre, where a cinema is being built.
He said: “There’s a lot happening in Northampton, it’s got a really positive story to tell.
“It shows what can be done even when we’re having to be very careful with budgets.
“The number of projects that are being delivered is well in advance of other areas and it’s all being done in a very straightforward fashion.
“There’s a real can-do attitude here.”
During his visit, the MP met politicians from Northampton and talked about the Northampton Alive project, which includes such developments as the town’s new railway station, new bus station and the possible relocation of the University of Northampton to the town centre.
Northampton South MP, Brian Binley, who has helped push forward the project, said: “It’s marvellous to get Government recognition of Northampton Alive and the interest being shown in it is immense.
“We’ve even had people from Toronto express an interest in what we’re doing here.”
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