Northampton’s market is in slow decline. A step change is needed, to inject capital into the market operation, revive its failing fortunes and transform Market Square itself into the noble open space it once was.

The square is repaved in a variety of textures of stone paving. Its lovely collection of facades can be enjoyed and routes across it are unimpeded. Bronze circles inset into the paving conceal power, water and drainage points for servicing events, concerts and fairs. Some of the circles form an intriguing fountain.

Mature trees are planted to mask the unfortunate modern buildings on the north and east sides of the square. In the long term these facades should be replaced by architecture appropriate to the quality of the square’s best buildings. The market, instead of filling the square, stretches into a necklace threading along the north and east sides of Market Square and extending the whole length of Abington Street. Abington Street, the old drovers’ road fronted onto by narrow burgage plots, is centrally located and bellies just as a market street should. The market and the shops will each benefit from the other’s presence.

The market will operate entirely from mobile trailers, as is the norm in the rest of Europe. These range from simple fold-out market stalls of varying sizes, to sophisticated refrigerated units able to sell fish, meat and dairy produce. A variety of funding and revenue options are available to ensure that this proposal is affordable and attractive to Northampton Council and to stallholders, both present and future.

The benefit to the market traders is ease of use, and a new modern image, attractive to today’s shopper. This will reverse years of slow decline and mark a new start for market trading in Northampton and the wider East Midlands. For the people of Northampton, not only do they gain a flourishing, diverse market selling goods they want to buy, but they win a new central space for the town: safe, impressive and the location for a great variety of events: a new outdoor “Living Room”.