WORK is set to start this year on a new retail and leisure development north-west of Daventry town centre.
It follows a decision by Daventry District Council’s (DDC) Planning Committee to give the go-ahead for new scheme on land at the Waterloo, Gasworks and Chaucer Way area of Daventry – known as Town Centre Vision Site 5.
The new development is set to include food stores and shops, family and fast food restaurants and a hotel, plus around 380 parking spaces.
The retail scheme is being brought forward by DDC’s development partner Henry Boot Developments Ltd (HBDL) which has negotiated terms of lease with several national retailers.
Work to clear and prepare the land for the development will take place first, with a view to the construction phase getting under way in January 2019. The first shops could open their doors in early 2020.
Work is also under way at the Heartland Business Park in Daventry to construct new £2.3m purpose-built UK sales and service headquarters.
Daventry District Council (DDC) is constructing the 1,760 square metre premises on land it owns off Newnham Drive for laser systems company Coherent (Rofin-Baasel UK), which will lease the site from the council for 15 years under the deal.
The build, being carried out by the council’s contractors, Conamar Building Services, is expected to be completed in July this year.
DDC came up with the design and build scheme for Coherent after it was approached by the company, which has been based in the town for 22 years and was searching for new premises.
The build is being funded from the council’s capital budgets, money that is specifically used to invest in land and property and not spent on the day-to-day running of council services. Once completed, rental income from the new development will be used by the council to provide services.
Allan Hardisty, Coherent’s Head of Service for UK & Ireland said: “Our current premises are getting a bit tired and are no longer fit for purpose. It will be fantastic to move into a new facility designed specifically for our needs as a growing business.
“The new facility will also help to reduce our running costs with state-of-the-art energy efficient design including solar panels. The added extra of the feature window overlooking the old railway line is a nice touch as well.”
Find out more from Daventry District Council’s Business Team on 01327 871100 or email