Luxury shoe maker set to buy empty listed building

Luxury boot and shoe maker John Lobb want to turn the site into a new location for its factory operations

A listed building is set to be sold to a shoe manufacturer after proposals to use it as a headquarters for council housing services fell through.

The now-defunct Northampton Borough Council purchased Horizon House, near the St Peter's Way roundabout in Northampton, in 2017, with a view to making it a base for Northampton Partnership Homes.

West Northamptonshire Council - formed in 2021 - is now in talks with luxury boot and shoe maker John Lobb, who want to create a new site for factory operations.

Officials at the Conservative-controlled authority will discuss the proposed sale at a cabinet meeting on 8 October.

The vacant building was built in the 19th Century and was previously used as offices by the former Northampton Gas Company.

However, it has not been occupied for many years and has since fallen into a state of disrepair.

A council report described the property as an "important industrial heritage landmark" and said benefits of the proposed sale would include its refurbishment and the creation of more than 120 jobs.

It said the planned sale would "represent a major inward investment in one of the core industries Northampton is known for around the world".

John Lobb approached the authority about the site late last year and it said the offer from the company was in line with its valuation of the building.

The refurbished building is next to the proposed Four Waterside project, which is set to feature a hotel, office spaces and residential homes.

The listed building was constructed in the 19th Century