Transformation of old M&S and BHS sites under way

Deputy council leader James Petter said West Northamptonshire's plans were a response to the changing nature of retail

Flats for professionals and "unique retail units" are among plans for a town centre site which was once home to two large department stores.

A 70-tonne excavator has begun demolishing the old Marks & Spencer and BHS shops in Abington Street, Northampton.

James Petter, deputy leader of West Northamptonshire Council, said its aim was to make that end of the high street "a lot more attractive to come and work and play".

The site's regeneration into flats and shops, including park areas, will take place in phases during the next three to four years, he added.

The demolition work needs to be precise - methodically working through a very large site while not disrupting neighbouring buildings

Petter, who is also the Reform-led council cabinet member for the local economy, heritage and culture, said the plans were a response to the changing nature of retail.

"I started [my career] in Selfridges and then Harrods and those large department stores are great if you have a large city like London, but locally we need to adapt and we need to be a lot more flexible and attract people that will come in here and actually shop on our high streets, so it needs to change," he said.

"We all buy things online so we need to make it more attractive for people to come in, with events in the Market Square and things like this [project] with unique retail units."

He added the area already had lots of student flats, with more to come, so: "We're looking to do slightly more different apartments here, trying to get people that are more professional to come into town."

Demolition company Colemans spent a long time liaising with neighbours before work began, said James Doherty

James Doherty, project manager for demolition company Colemans, said: "The 70-tonne excavator works methodically through the structure bay by bay.

"One of the big constraints is we're surrounded - so we've got the High Street on Abington Street and Northampton House to the north."

The works will be monitored for noise and vibration throughout the process, while a water jet is being used which "keeps on top of the dust and makes sure it doesn't leave the site", he added.

The M&S building should be flattened by early October and the company will move on to the BHS department store.

It hopes to have completed this work by Christmas.

Hardcore and steel will remain on site for reuse once the rebuild begins, he added

The BHS store closed in 2016 and the Marks & Spencer branch shut two years later.

The two companies totalled about 150,00 sq ft (13,935 sq m) of retail space.

Now-defunct Northampton Borough Council bought the M&S building for £1.45m in 2020.

The BHS outlet was originally sold to a developer but West Northamptonshire Council acquired it in 2022.