Northampton Market Square has been at the centre of the town for almost 800 years. Dating back to 1235, it is one of Britain’s oldest and longest-running market squares, but changing shopping habits and declining town-centre footfall had gradually reduced its role as a focal point for the community.
West Northamptonshire Council appointed landscape architects Gillespies to lead a major heritage-led regeneration of the square, creating a more welcoming and flexible public space while retaining its historic character. The £12.4 million project was supported by £8.4 million from the Government’s Future High Streets Fund.
The completed square combines its traditional role as a marketplace with a much broader range of uses. New paving, permanent market stalls, tiered seating, lighting, an interactive water feature and new tree planting have created spaces for markets, events and everyday use throughout the year.
Trees formed an important part of the new landscape, introducing greenery and natural shade into what had historically been a predominantly hard-surfaced environment.
However, successful tree planting within a busy civic space requires careful consideration below ground as well as above it. The trees needed sufficient uncompacted soil to establish and mature, while the surrounding surface needed to remain capable of accommodating the everyday demands placed on a major public square.
GreenBlue Urban supplied RootSpace 400 soil cells to create suitable rooting environments beneath the new hard landscape. The system provides uncompacted soil for root development while supporting the paved surface above, allowing valuable rooting volume to be incorporated without compromising the way the square is used.
RootSoil 20 was used within the rooting environment, providing a suitable growing medium for the new trees. RootRain ArborVent irrigation and aeration systems were incorporated to support the movement of water and air into the soil profile, while ArborGuy underground guying provides tree anchoring without the need for above-ground stakes.
ReRoot root barriers were also included to help manage future root growth where necessary, an important consideration within a space containing paving and other below-ground infrastructure.
Together, these components create a coordinated tree planting system designed around the long-term requirements of the trees rather than simply the space needed to plant them on day one.
The regeneration has retained elements of Northampton Market Square’s heritage while giving the space a new role within the town centre. Reclaimed cobbles have been reused alongside natural porphyry paving, while the water feature references Northampton’s longstanding connection with shoemaking.
The introduction of trees adds another layer to that transformation. As they establish and their canopies develop, they will bring greater shade, seasonal interest and greenery into the centre of the square, helping to make it a more comfortable place to spend time.
For a market square that has adapted continuously since the 13th century, the latest chapter is about creating a public space that can continue to serve Northampton for years to come.
