Discussions to be held on the future of the Cornerstone brand

05 December 2025

Following ongoing public feedback and careful consideration, North Northamptonshire Council will start a process to look at the rebranding of Cornerstone in Kettering.

Located in the heart of Kettering town centre, four council services are currently under the Cornerstone brand: 

• Kettering Library
• Alfred East Art Gallery
• Kettering Museum
• Manor House Gardens

Currently, work is being undertaken on the building to replace the Grade 2 listed library roof with the building due to fully open, including the already completed brand-new extension, to the public in summer 2026.

Having established the full condition of the roof, the project is due to come under budget with £2 million of the funds set aside for the project having been returned to the council’s central budget.

Whilst work continues, North Northamptonshire Council will be undertaking a process to look at the existing name and how the site and immediate area should be rebranded going forward. The council hopes that with the help of a local designer, the site can fully and truly reflect the cultural heritage and history of the town, as it enters a new chapter, through the branding and signage on site.

The process will start with the appointment, via a tender process, of a local North Northamptonshire design agency to support with the brand development and creation. Once an agency has been appointed, an engagement session will take place with key representatives and stakeholders including the local 'friends of' groups, Civic Society, council ward councillors, the Town Council and the Heritage Forum.

The library, museum, Alfred East art gallery and Manor House Gardens are at the heart of the town and have been much loved by residents of Kettering and the wider North Northamptonshire area for many, many years.

With us looking to fully re-opening the site, it’s essential that everything reflects the history and heritage of the local area, from the new roof repaired in a traditional method through to how the building is branded. With this in mind, we will be shortly starting a process to look at how the site should be branded going forward.Cllr Greg Wilcox, Executive Member for Communities

When I became Leader of the Council, I said we would always listen to residents of North Northamptonshire, and this is a prime example. The roof project continues at pace and we’re currently looking at the project coming under budget, something I know has always been a hot topic in the town. On the project budget and the site branding, we are listening, and we continue to look carefully at the site as it moves forward, including how it is represented publicly in the future.

The site as a whole, which is a very important part of Kettering’s Cultural Quarter as originally identified in planning policies for the area, is currently called 'Cornerstone'. Now as we look to the future, we want to listen to our partners and, of course, the users of these brilliant public facilities to agree a name that best reflects the heritage of this important area of Kettering town centre.

I can’t wait to see these wonderful facilities reopened to the public in the heart of Kettering as we celebrate Northamptonshire Day in 2026.Cllr Martin Griffiths, Leader of the Council