Council to sell off assets to raise cash

A council is selling town centre retail units, two cottages and a playing field to raise extra money.

West Northamptonshire Council agreed to sell the sites after a meeting reviewed the assets in its estate.

The Reform UK-led authority said the move would cut maintenance and running costs. Some of the assets would be transferred into community ownership.

The sales come after the council announced a wider plan of budget cuts in a bid to balance its books for the 2026-27 financial year.

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, the sites include two ground-floor retail units at 20 and 20A Sheep Street, in Northampton, and an industrial unit currently let to engineering and motorsport firm Cosworth, also in the town.

Twenty Sheep Street is currently occupied by community radio station Inspiration FM, but the council said it was in discussions with the tenant about its future occupancy.

Speaking at the cabinet meeting, Labour councillor Keith Holland-Delamere said he was "really concerned" to see the Sheep Street property on the asset disposal list.

He warned community outreach work could be lost.

Holland-Delamere said Inspiration FM was "well known as an important, vital community organisation".

"I recognise the challenges for the voluntary, community, social enterprise sector, especially when we keep on cutting funding from our budgets."

The council said selling the unit on St James Mill Road, occupied by Cosworth, "will generate a sizable capital receipt", but also mean the loss of £240,000 per year in rent.

Cosworth was expected to use the option granted to it as part of the lease to acquire the freehold from the council.

The council has also agreed to sell 1 and 2 Fogg Cottages in Milton Malsor, a village near Northampton.

They were used as temporary accommodation, but were deemed to be too remote.

The cottages have been hit by vandalism, fly-tipping and anti-social behaviour.

A community disposal has also been proposed for St Luke's Centre and St Luke's Playing Field in Duston, Northampton.

They could be sold to the parish council for a nominal sum of £1.

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