What is going to happen to empty units at St James Retail Park in Northampton?

Four out of 11 units at St James Retail Park in Northampton are now empty following the closure of DW Sports gym on Tuesday (August 4).

Toys R Us, Mothercare and Brantano's have not been replaced since leaving the Towcester Road shopping park over the years, while Next, Comet and BHS have also departed.

Some replacements have been found with The Range opening in April last year but the retail park seems to be struggling to find other willing tenants.

Nicola Allen wrote on the Chronicle & Echo's Facebook page in response to the post about the gym closure: "That retail park is getting emptier and emptier."

In January, a spokesman for DTZ Investors, which manages the park, told the Chron there was interest from a number of businesses in the former Mothercare site - but it remains empty.

The spokesman admitted then it has been a testing period for the retail industry - that has not been helped by the coronavirus pandemic with many retailers already cutting jobs and closing across the country.

“The retail market has been tough of late and the market has changed but we’re doing well and I’m confident we can fill the empty units,” he said in January.

DTZ Investors did not respond to requests for an update on the empty units at St James Retail Park yesterday (Wednesday).

Back in January, suggestions for what to do with the large ex-Toys R Us unit were dominated by leisure, such as an ice rink or paintball centre, or even a new home for Northamptonshire Search and Rescue.

Danielle Stone, Labour councillor for Castle ward at Northampton Borough Council, which includes St James Retail Park, believes people need to be imaginative to fill such spaces.

"I think we're heading for a recession and I think there will be more shop closures and the borough needs to do its best to keep places open," she said.

"I think if we can't attract retailers then we need to think about other things that could attract people to the town."

Cllr Stone said the Labour group has been working on a proposal to create a new youth centre and believes one of the empty units at St James Retail Park could be perfect for it.

But the Labour leader at the council warned that retail park owners and the council must provide what people want and change with their habits.

More and more people are turning to online shopping, Cllr Stone said, especially during the Covid-19 crisis when many shops were closed or customers may not want to risk catching the virus.

When asked what the council could do the help, she said: "The council has been hurt badly by the loss of business rates so I think the authority will be looking a commercial opportunities where it can make an income.

"But it will need to be really thought through to make sure it is profitable.

"Lots of retail outlets are struggling or closing and it's really serious so we need to think how we can maintain that and regenerate town centre spaces."