Council buys former Marks & Spencer building in Northampton town centre for £1.45m

Northampton Borough Council has bought the former Marks & Spencer building in Abington Street for £1.45 million.

The building has stood empty since 2018 when it was vacated by the high street giant - and reportedly has had no offers in the past two years.

It comes as part of Northampton Forward's ongoing Town Centre Masterplan that was unveiled last year and indicated the council hoped to use the M&S building for both flats and small shops.

Northampton Forward board member and cabinet member for regeneration and enterprise Tim Hadland said: "[Our masterplan] identified the need for increased town centre living which will support the many businesses that exist and help them to adapt to dramatic changes in the way people shop.

“Coronavirus has accelerated this change and made it even more important that we take action, and the former Marks & Spencer site is a crucial one for us."

The Marks & Spencer building was teased in a preview of Northampton Forward's plants large scale developments in June, following the board putting forward a final bid for £12m to the Government's Future High Streets fund renovate the Market Square.

Northampton Forward has also made a bid for up to £25m from the Government's Town Fund to create 'shovel-ready sites', including at the M&S building.

The money would be used to reportedly remove large amounts of asbestos to get it ready for development.

Brendan Bruder, Abbeyross Property Consultants Managing Director and Northampton Forward board member, said: “We on the board are excited about this acquisition which will enable a new, high-quality development to come forward on Abington Street.

“The site will look to provide modern commercial units on the ground floor replacing the outdated store format that is no longer desirable to retailers, as well as homes above that will increase the vitality of the town centre.”