Councillors give their word lifeline Northampton community shops will not be sold to private developers by borough

Last month, the Chron reported on how shopowners were afraid they would lost their stores.

Two borough councillors say they have "no intention" of seeing more than a dozen community shops in Northampton's eastern district sold off on the open market.

In September, the Chronicle & Echo reported on a borough council plan to dispose of 14 local shops around Blackthorn, Ecton Brook and Goldings by offering the freeholds to the families who rented them.

But when shopowners were quoted hundreds of thousands of pounds at a time to buy their own stores, they told the Chron how they were afraid if they did not find the money they would have to watch as their livelihoods were sold to developers or new landlords at auction.

Councillors Phil Larrett and Dennis Meredith have given their word the Eastern District shops will not be sent to open market.

Lifeline Northampton community shops face freehold prices of up to £400,000 if t...

Councillor Dennis Meredith [Talevera, Lib Dem.], told the Chron he is now working to represent all 14 shopowners.

He said: "There is no intention of selling these shops on to developers.

"Sending the shops to open market may have been considered but [the council] may have changed their minds.

A council plan is underway to dispose of these shops by selling the freeholds back to the shopowners who rent them.

"They are not just shops they are a community service, especially for elderly people and especially during the Covid-19 pandemic."

Meanwhile, deputy leader of the borough council Phil Larrett [East Hunsbury, Con.], said: "I honestly cannot see these shops going to open market. It

"As far as the borough is concerned we want to see the shops carry on as valuable community assets, and we want them to go to the tenants where possible."

In September, the Chron reported how shopowners had been quoted hundreds of thousands of pounds for their small, community supermarkets and convenience stores.

In one case, the family behind the Londis supermarket in Walledwell Court were told to find £400,000 to buy their freehold.

It is understood the evaluations were conducted by Northampton's Drake Commercial property agents. Several of the shopowners are now seeking their own evaluations in opposition.

However, Councillor Meredith also raised concerns that the shops could still be sold on the open market under the West Northamptonshire Unitary Authority set to come into effect in April 2021.

He said: "I will do all in my power to stop that. Even if, when these decisions are given to the West Northamptonshire Unitary Authority in six months, I will pressure them to adopt the borough council's policy."

Former Northampton North MP Sally Keeble and Talavera ward councillor Janice Duffy have also worked to represent the shopowners.

A council spokesman said: “The council has agreed to offer these shops for sale to the existing tenants. We recognise that tenants are likely to invest in their units to make them better community shops, and sale offers us the opportunity to re-align the properties within our publicly-owned portfolio.

“Should any of the tenants choose not to purchase them, the council naturally has options as to what it could do next, but consideration of these options would only take place if the current negotiations fail. The purpose of this whole exercise has been to make these shops better community amenities, and to allow local business people to invest in their businesses to achieve this.

“At present, we are pleased to report that we are having positive discussions with the tenants, we have already extended the negotiation period from 6 to 12 months, and we are giving them support and information for their advisors. As yet, it is too soon to assume an outcome.”