New Market Place hub aims to restore visible policing in Kettering
North Northants Council has granted planning permission for a long-awaited town-centre police station in Kettering, approving the conversion of the former two-storey Jurassic Grill building in Market Place into a base for the Kettering Neighbourhood Policing Team.
The facility, sited in a building that opened as Chimichanga in 2013 and later traded as Jurassic Grill, will include a public reception and booking-in desk with security features, interview rooms, operational areas, office space and lockers. The development is expected to replace the team’s current base in the car park of the council offices on Bowling Green Road and the previous London Road complex which closed in 2017.
Local policing leaders have emphasised the symbolic and practical importance of a visible town-centre presence. In announcing the scheme the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for Northamptonshire reiterated a pledge to make policing more accessible across town centres.
“I’m thrilled to deliver on the commitment I gave to make policing in the centre of Kettering more visible and accessible. People tell me that they want more visible policing in our town centres. They want the reassurance of knowing that their police officers and PCSOs are part of the life of the town and I know that this helps rebuild trust and strengthen relationships.”
The planning approval sets out access arrangements for staff and the public. For the first 12 months from the building’s opening, police staff will be permitted to use the premises at any time, allowing unrestricted staff access during that period. The public reception will be open to visitors between 9am and 5pm, Monday to Saturday, and will be closed to the public on Sundays and bank holidays.
| Use | First 12 months | After 12 months |
|---|---|---|
| Staff access | 24 hours, any day | Not allowed before 7am or after midnight |
| Public reception | 9am–5pm Mon–Sat; closed Sun & Bank Holidays | 9am–5pm Mon–Sat; closed Sun & Bank Holidays |
After the initial 12-month period, the council will review whether unrestricted staff hours had an adverse effect on the amenities of neighbouring residents and businesses. That assessment will determine whether the force can continue to operate 24/7 from the Market Place location in later years.
Local impact and context
For many Kettering residents the return of a visible police presence to the town centre will be significant. Officers moved from the London Road complex nine years ago, and the team are currently based on the outskirts of the town. Bringing a hub back into Market Place aims to deliver reassurance, quicker public access to services and stronger ties between officers, PCSOs and the community.
Neighbours and town-centre businesses will be closely watching the council’s forthcoming assessment. The planning authority’s approach balances the benefits of accessible policing with concerns about noise, security and activity outside normal hours. The temporary unrestricted staff access allows the force to operate from the site immediately while giving the council and community a chance to measure any impacts.
Owners of the building — North Northants Council — had previously sought tenants for the Market Place site before moving forward with the police conversion. The approval now clears the way for internal works to create interview rooms and operational spaces described in the planning documents.
- Market Place police station will base the Kettering Neighbourhood Policing Team.
- Public reception: 9am–5pm Monday–Saturday; closed Sundays and bank holidays.
- Staff: permitted 24-hour access during first 12 months; restricted hours thereafter pending council review.
The conversion marks a visible step in restoring a town-centre policing presence. The council will monitor the effect of the operational hours on nearby residents and businesses before deciding whether longer hours can be granted beyond the first year.
