Rushden Lakes retail park 'no threat to town centre'

An out-of-town retail park in Northamptonshire would offer "no competition" to Wellingborough town centre, according to councillors.

The £50m Rushden Lakes development would include 20 shops and is proposed for the outskirts of Rushden.

Councillors in Wellingborough said the scheme could be a "catalyst" for regeneration.

The council decided it would not be objecting to the retail park plans.

In a statement, Conservative-run Wellingborough Council said its planning committee believed the development would not be competing with Wellingborough town centre because the choice of retailers would be different.

A council spokeswoman said: "The development could be a catalyst for Wellingborough's regeneration and a stepping stone to attracting big-name retailers to the town."

'A good thing'

Developer LXB Retail Properties, which owns the land, submitted the planning application in December.

Jon McCarthy, LXB development director, said the project would offer "employment, leisure and tourism attributes" and a "widened retail choice" for the area.

Councillors from other surrounding towns, including Kettering, Corby and Northampton, have objected to the plans.

Developers said the plan would create 1,500 jobs. But concerns have been raised that jobs could be taken away from their neighbouring town centres.

Labour councillor Andrew Scarborough, of Wellingborough council, said: "I cannot see where the loss of business is going to come from, the way I see it is is a good thing and should go ahead."

The Rushden Lakes development will be discussed by East Northamptonshire council in June.