Developer to 'breathe new life' into town centre

The old M&S building on Northampton's Abington Street has been knocked down

A developer has been chosen to "breathe new life" into the site of the former Marks & Spencer and BHS stores in Northampton town centre.

West Northamptonshire Council has appointed Capital&Centric for the £70m regeneration scheme and to turn the site, where the buildings are being demolished, into a "a buzzing new neighbourhood".

It will be home to flats, shops, a gym and restaurants.

The developer's John Moffat said it would be a "game-changer for the town centre".

The demolition work is due to be finished by March

The council said the new development would also have bars, cafés, public spaces, a rooftop terrace, a mini cinema and co-working spaces.

The M&S on Abington Street closed in 2018 and BHS closed all its stores in 2016, but part of the unit has been used as a fashion and furniture retailer since then.

Mr Moffat said: "Northampton has massive potential, and this site is a game-changer for the town centre.

"We're not interested in cookie cutter blocks. We're creating a place where people want to live, work and hang out.

"This is about taking a tired part of town and making it somewhere that buzzes with life again."

James Petter, cabinet member for local economy, culture and leisure at the Reform UK council, said: "This marks a major step forward in the regeneration of Northampton town centre."