EXCITING plans for a retail and leisure development that would expand Daventry town centre to the north-west are set to move forward this year.
The revised plans proposed by Daventry District Council’s (DDC) development partner Henry Boot developments Ltd (HBDL) for Daventry‘s Town Centre Vision (TCV) Site 5 include two food stores alongside a range of retail units, a 60-bedroom hotel, a family restaurant and a fast food outlet, 430 parking spaces and a retirement housing complex aimed at increasing consumer choice, and were approved by DDC last December.
Original plans for the site incl
EXCITING plans for a retail and leisure development that would expand Daventry town centre to the north-west are set to move forward this year.
The revised plans proposed by Daventry District Council’s (DDC) development partner Henry Boot developments Ltd (HBDL) for Daventry‘s Town Centre Vision (TCV) Site 5 include two food stores alongside a range of retail units, a 60-bedroom hotel, a family restaurant and a fast food outlet, 430 parking spaces and a retirement housing complex aimed at increasing consumer choice, and were approved by DDC last December.
Original plans for the site included a large supermarket and petrol station. These, however, have now been revised as supermarket operators are no longer interested in developments of that scale.
A planning application for the revised plans is expected to be submitted in spring this year.
The changing face of Daventry
Building on around £35 million of new investment that has taken place in in Daventry town over the past nine years, including Abbey Retail Park, the iCon innovation centre and the University Technical College, recent Daventry TCV projects include:
Retail and leisure development
In June 2014 planning permission was granted for a new retail development, cinema and library on land north of High Street – also known as TCV Site 1.
This scheme was reliant on cross-funding from the Site 5 development going ahead in its original form, in order to make it commercially viable.
In the light of the revised Site 5 proposals, HBDL and DDC are committed to reworking Site 1 to improve its commercial viability, but retaining a leisure and retail offer.
The council has recently concluded technical work on assembling all the land required for future development.
Site 6 – a new learning quarter for Daventry
Daventry Hill School, a new academy for pupils aged four to 19 with special educational needs, is being developed on land off Ashby Road and is due to open its doors towards the end of 2016.
Site 3 – the Daventry WaterSpace
Work is taking place to revise the masterplan for Site 3 off Eastern Way, also known as the Daventry WaterSpace. The site will offer a vibrant extension of the town centre, including a marina with proposals to blend leisure, residential, office and community use. The site would, in time, link to the proposed Daventry Canal Arm.
The Daventry Canal Arm and boatlift
Work is on-going to provide supplementary information to support the current planning application. If the canal project receives planning permission, the Council will commence work on a planning application for a boat lift.
It is hoped the scheme will help regenerate Daventry, increase tourism and attract fresh investment into the District.
To find out more about the Town Centre Vision proposals, visit: www.daventrydc.gov.uk/regeneration
Daventry’s TCV projects are featured in the Midlands Engine pitch book which is produced by UKTI and will be used to attract overseas investment. It is being championed by Sajid Javid (Secretary of State for Business, Innovation & Skills) and was launched at this year’s MIPIM property show in Cannes in March.
It can be viewed by visiting: www.gov.uk/government/publications/midlands-engine-regeneration-opportunities-pitchbook
Major housing projects are progressing well at Crest Nicholson’s Monksmoor site in Daventry and planning permissions have been granted for Micklewell Park and Overstone Leys (north of Northampton).
On commercial sites, enabling works are in progress for DIRFT III; the extension to Hambleside Danelaw being built by DDC is nearing completion and the Council’s other commercial units are currently 86 per cent occupied. There is a high demand for suitable commercial units at present.
Work is under way on the new £13 million campus for Northampton College in Daventry which will provide a new modern building to be open at the end of the year.
Start is imminent on site for the £35 million Daventry Development Link Road to the north of Weedon and Flore, which will provide sufficient road capacity on the A45 for the future development of Daventry.