Plans submitted for new Greggs and Card Factory at Northampton retail park

The two businesses could be coming to Riverside Retail Park under the latest plans for the shopping destination.

Developers Riverside Retail Limited want to build a new retail pod on the former garden centre site next to Unit A1 (formerly Homebase), which already has planning permission to become an M&S Foodhall. The rest of the former Homebase unit has been turned into a new Wickes store.

If approved, Greggs would occupy one of the new units, while Card Factory would move into the other.

Riverside Retail Park Limited said: "The proposed occupiers are Greggs within Unit K1 and Card Factory within Unit K2. The proposed units will provide additional choice and competition for retail and food and drink within Riverside Retail Park, complementing the existing provision and serving existing visitors to the surrounding retail uses."

The plans show the new building would sit at the front of the retail park, beside the future M&S Foodhall.

Planning documents say the Greggs would include indoor seating as well as an outdoor seating area.

In a planning statement, Riverside Retail Park Limited said: "Riverside Retail Park is a well-established destination for large format retailing and is occupied with a wide range of retail and leisure operators.

"The proposed development will provide an additional food and beverage unit and a small-scale retail unit to serve existing customers visiting the retail park, therefore widening consumer choice and increasing competition."

The applicant says the development would create around 20 jobs and make use of land that has stood empty since the garden centre closed.

West Northamptonshire Council is expected to decide the application by July 17, according to planning documents.