The giant, steel structures of these Gasometers can be seen for miles in the skyline of Northampton.
There are calls to demolish the Gasometers. Councillor Paul Varnsverry is campaigning to save the structures:
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'Deputy Leader of Northampton Borough Council and portfolio holder with responsibility for heritage, Councillor Paul Varnsverry, is calling for two gasometers in Northampton to be converted into landmark buildings as part of proposed future redevelopment.
The gasometers, which have dominated St Peter’s Way and Towcester Road for decades, are due to be decomissioned as part of the planned ‘Waterside’ redevelopment of the area and Paul Varnsverry is calling for the external framework of the two structures to be retained and sympathetically incorporated into the design of commercial or residential buildings, such as those seen in Dublin (pictured below) and Vienna.
“The two Northampton gasometers - particularly the St. Peter’s Way site - are an established part of the skyline when approaching Northampton’s town centre. That skyline could be significantly enhanced if they are used for a new purpose, or adversely altered forever if they are demolished and the sites used to host mundane buildings” Paul said.
“Converted in a similar way to gasometers in other towns and cities around the world, the gasometers could provide prestigious new offices or residential accomodation - possibly including halls of residence for students at the University who would have easy access to term-time job oportunities at town centre businesses and the nearby retail park - and provide landmark buildings on Northampton’s southern approach.” '
A newspaper article from the Northampton Chronicle and Echo also comments:
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'Published on Wed Aug 04 12:03:41 BST 2010
A senior Northampton politician has suggested Northampton's soon to be redundant gas towers should be converted into flats.
In 2008, National Grid, which owns the two gasometers in St Peter's Way, confirmed they were in talks to scrap the structures.
At the time, it was thought they would be demolished as part of a project to regenerate the surrounding riverside area.
But the deputy leader of Northampton Borough Council, Councillor Paul Varnsverry (Lib Dem, West Hunsbury) has now called for the towers' metal skeletons to be saved and the structures converted into flats or offices.
The move would emulate work already carried out in Dublin, where a gasometer has been converted into a landmark block of flats.
Councillor Varnsverry said: "The old gasometer in Dublin is significantly larger than the ones we have in Northampton, but it just strikes me as a wonderful concept and a great idea for Northampton, because the towers here have been landmarks for decades now."
The Dublin tower, which contains 200 flats, has been described as 'one of the most distinctive apartment developments ever to be built in Dublin'.
Councillor Varnsverry said while Northampton's towers may currently be dismissed by many people, they could become lost treasures like the town's former Emporium Arcade and Notre Dame School if they are demolished.
He said: "Although the towers are not everybody's idea of an historic building, we should ask are they worthy of restoration, and I think they are, that's why I've put this idea forward.
"We now need to find out what the public think."
The West Northamptonshire Development Corporation (WNDC) is currently leading talks with National Grid about the towers. The organisation's regeneration director, Chris Garden, said: "We're working to deliver exciting plans for the waterside area of Northampton, providing new jobs, homes and facilities for local people.
"The gasometers are part of these long-term plans and we're aware there are a number of inventive options for their development.
"However, we're not currently at a stage where we can discuss the exact nature or design of this development." '