LONDON ROAD RETAIL PLANS REVEALED

Proposals to create a new retail and leisure hub on a key approach to Wellingborough Town Centre have been submitted to the Borough Council of Wellingborough Council this week.

The plans for the London Road site have been drawn up by the UK’s leading regeneration specialist St. Modwen which bought the 3.4 acre brownfield plot in October 2013. Previous businesses on the now derelict site have included Whitworth Bros. Bakery and Knapp Tools.

The plans include a new discount foodstore along with shop units and a Drive-Thru restaurant, intended to complement the existing shopping and catering offer both in the town centre and at the adjacent Castlefields Retail Park, which is already home to a variety of national retailers including M&S Simply Food, B&Q and Pizza Hut.

New vehicle and pedestrian links to improve access to and from the town centre have also been proposed, along with parking for cars and cycles, and landscaping of the site.

Gary Morris, Senior Development Manager at St. Modwen said that the site had the potential to provide around 200 jobs, and that there had already been strong interest from well-known retailers:

“Wellingborough is currently seeing a great deal of new investment, creating a real opportunity to bring this site back into use as a new retail and leisure hub which supports growth prospects for the town centre as a whole.

“The site’s location on one of the main approaches to the town centre and its links to existing shopping in the area mean that we’re confident that we can attract new retailers to the development and create a destination of choice for the people of Wellingborough.

“We have already had strong interest from national companies and hope to announce some good news on lettings in the coming weeks.”

Northamptonshire-based property agent Prop-Search is acting for St. Modwen on the development and Director Simon Toseland added that the plans had already received support from the town’s businesses community.

“Previous development proposals for the site have proved unsuccessful meaning that investment in jobs and local facilities has not been delivered. With St. Modwen’s regeneration expertise and nationally recognised reputation, there’s no doubt that this exciting new project can become a reality.”