Finding Capita PIP in Northampton

Today I had a Medical Assessment with Capita for my Personal Independence Payment (PIP) review. As I spent some (a lot of) time researching their location in Northampton and have now been there,  I thought it might be helpful to share directions to and how to find Capita PIP at Charles House in Derngate Northampton and parking information.

I will blog separately about my experiences of the PIP Medical Assessment process.

​The Northampton address for Capita PIP Medical Assessments is:
Capita PIP
Charles House
61-69 Derngate
Northampton
Northamptonshire
NN1 1UE

​Unfortunately I found that Google Maps has Charles House in slightly the wrong place; closer to the town – between Hazelwood Road and Castilian Street, which it is not! This is also the location showing on Capita PIP website

​Charles House is a modern office building occupied by a number of companies including Reed Employment Agency who have advertising on the outside of the building.

Charles House is on Derngate opposite Scholars Court and between Hazelwood Road and Bedford Place

​I have got the location added to google maps now , so this is the google map link for Capita PIP in Northampton

Parking for Capita PIP in Northampton

​There is no car park at the building but I found there was plenty of street parking available nearby when I attended at 1pm on a Friday.

The road adjacent to the building is Hazelwood Road, which has a lot of street parking spaces for up to 2 hours. Disabled badge holders do not pay.  However Hazelwood Road is a one way road with no entry from Derngate. So the route we took was to come into Northampton on the Bedford Road (A428),  turn right at the lights towards the hospital onto Cheyne Walk (A5123), then left at the next lights onto Spencer Parade, which becomes St Giles Street, then left again onto Hazelwood Road.  there is parking all along Hazelwood Road, including bays at the end on both sides. I used the address 7 Hazelwood Road, Northampton NN1 1LJ for our satnav

Once you have parked,  walk up to the end of  Hazelwood Road (same way as one way) to Derngate and turn left and you are outside Charles House.

​I know there is a public car park at the bottom of Albion Place, but it is a steep hill to walk back up.  There was also signs for a public car park on Hazelwood Road, but I didn’t check it out.

Accessibility at Capita PIP Northampton

Charles House is accessed via a communal door on the lower ground floor. There are some rather steep steps ( 5) down or a ramp to access the front of the building.

Access to the building is made via intercom and Capita was clearly marked on the intercom panel.  Capita then occupied offices immediately on the left on the entrance floor.

I have written this post because my anxiety means I have to know exactly where I am going and parking arrangements and what building looks like etc. Sometimes I will visit a new location before my appointment day. But I have recently been using google maps and street view to identify places and gain clarity to ease my anxiety

​I hope this is helpful and if you are attending a PIP medical assessment my thoughts are with you

​Best wishes
MyAnxiety