There are now only three shops left in Northampton's Market Walk

Only three shops will still be open at Northampton's ailing Market Walk shopping centre when the national lockdown ends next week.

The troubled centre had already seen a drop in footfall before 2020, only for several of its few remaining stores to vacate over the course of the coronavirus pandemic.

And over the past month during the second national lockdown, barriers were placed just inside the entrances to the centre to prevent residents walking through or using its public toilet.

Now, the arcade linking Abington Street and Market Square is set to reopen on December 2 with only three stores to browse - Lucci Leather on the ground floor; Aflora Luxe Gifts on the first floor; and Fast Stitch Tailor, which is accessible next to the entrance from Abington Street.

Even then, the owner of Aflora Luxe Gifts - which is still retailing online - told the Chronicle & Echo they are still considering whether to reopen their shop front because of the coronavirus.

It comes after the centre had several tenants vacant over the course of the pandemic.

The Diecast & More model shop closed after a clearance sale on October 18. The Cynthia Spencer Hospice charity shop on the second floor closed on October 24, while the Rendezvous Coffee Shop closed during the summer.

Zone Beauty Salon relocated to a new home on the Drapery in October, while Bias Gift Store moved into the Grosvenor Centre in the same month.

Meanwhile, the Bohemian Finds dress shop announced its departure in March this year before moving to the Vintage Retreat emporium in Lower Harding Street.

Market Walk is currently up for sale for £2million. It comes after the Walk was first auctioned in May 2018, where it was bought for £695,000. It was then sold again only five months later in October 2018, where it was bought for £610,000 by Safeland PLC, operated by Errol and Larry Lipman.

There have also been several planning applications centered on the Walk in the past five years, including ideas to turn it into a hotel, a food court and student flats, but none of them have progressed.

An application was passed by the borough council in March this year for a "flexible change of use" - but this only means that the council would be willing to hear the ideas of any developer who comes forward with a plan for the walk.

In 2017, the then owners were given planning permission to let empty shopping centre units to food, drink and leisure operators in a bid to increase footfall.

The aim was to fill half-a-dozen units that had been empty for up to six years with cafes, bars and restaurants, as well as offices for professional and financial services.

Before then it had rebranded as a fashion destination but the loss of Next and Laura Ashley forced a rethink. Dorothy Perkins also closed in March this year.