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CORBY | Projects & Construction

423K views 2K replies 94 participants last post by  Huge Erection 
#1 · (Edited)
WELCOME TO THE CORBY PROJECTS THREAD

(The previous thread was lost when the site was hacked, so i'm starting again)

Corby is undergoing a period of extensive regeneration, that will last until 2031, by which time the population should be nearer to 100,000 than the current 53,174. On this thread, you'll find news and photographs relating to Corby's regeneration and where possible, the photographs will be done as timelines.

KEEP AN EYE ON THIS FIRST PAGE AS I WILL POST PHOTO UPDATES INTO EXISTING POSTS RATHER THAN CREATING NEW ONES

Let's kick things off...

Oakley Vale Shopping Precinct and Pub

30 Dec 2004


5 May 2005


22 July 2005


26 October 2005
 
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#77 ·
Extra Rail Services for the East Midlands Proposed - From www.nndev.co.uk

8 June 2006

The Department for Transport today launched a consultation on the specification for the new East Midlands rail franchise.

The new franchise will combine the existing Midland Mainline franchise and the East Midlands regional services currently provided by Central Trains.

The consultation seeks views on proposals for the minimum level of service that a future operator must deliver. The new franchise will start operating on 11th November 2007 and will put in place up to 5% more trains than today.

The consultation proposes further improvements including services for the new East Midlands Parkway station, which is anticipated to open in December 2008. Extra capacity to meet anticipated growth in passenger demand including a new outer suburban service between Kettering and London is also included.

Bidders will also be required to price serving a proposed new station at Corby as an incremental option to provide the town with an hourly direct service to London. The total journey time is likely to be around an hour and a quarter.

A new through service between Nottingham to Leeds, to be operated by either Northern Rail or the East Midlands franchise is also planned.

The specification will require the future operator to build on recent performance improvements and ensure more stations achieve Secure Station Status.

Rail Minister Derek Twigg said:

"This is an important franchise and it is entirely right that we consult on the services it provides.

"If these proposals go ahead passengers will further benefit for the recent performance improvements on the Midland Main Line.

"More people are choosing to travel by train in the East Midlands. We want to provide extra and faster services where they are needed, build on recent performance improvements and create a safer station environment."

Responses are invited by 07 August 2006. They will inform the Invitation to Tender, which will be given to pre-qualified bidders in Autumn 2006. The closing dates for receipt of bids is February 2007 and the winner announced in Summer 2007.
 
#79 ·
Town plans for Olympic village - from www.corbytoday.co.uk

AN international-size pool was the first thing on the wish-list, and now a village planned for Olympic athletes will be built. Corby Council has announced plans to build a village in the town to be used by international teams preparing for the London Games in 2012. The news comes after councillors approved a plan to build an international standard 50-metre swimming pool.

Chief executive Chris Mallender has revealed the intention to provide world-class accommodation in the town to attract an Olympic team. He said: "This is more than just an idea. We have plans to build a showcase development of modern manufacturer-built houses from overseas. "The intention is at the point we move into Olympic mode the village will be used as accommodation for athletes and swimmers staying in Corby."

The development will consist of modern prefabricated houses with a lifespan of between three and five years. Corby Council is working with Bee Bee Developments on the project and although it is in its early stages, Corby Council recently hosted manufacturers for talks on the plan.

The Olympic village and 50-metre pool are just two of the many sport-related projects being undertaken in Corby. A council spokesman said: "The pool is seen as a spearhead for the borough's exciting and successful Corby Regeneration in Sport Partnership, which is delivering the best sports and leisure facilities in the sub-region. "This includes our newly-refurbished county standard athletics track, £1m plus investment programme to upgrade football facilities at Rockingham Triangle, a new £1m pavilion for the football/multi-sports centre at West Glebe and an international quality skatepark and performance sports facility as part of the urban extension at Priors Hall."

Swimming coach and Corby Sports Forum chairman Ed Sweeney said: "I am over the moon about the pool and the village sounds like a fantastic idea.
"We have the raw talent here in Corby. The challenge is bringing that to the fore. The sports facilities will bring people to the town as well."

Martin Campbell, 26, of Gainsborough Road, said: "I think it can only be good news for the town. Everyone loves sport and I like to hear that they are pushing it."

Jimmy Wallace, 27, of Gainborough Road, said: "You can just see what a big sports town Corby is. It would be great to see an Olympic team here."

15 June 2006
 
#80 ·
Willow Place - Work Starts June 19

12 June 2006 - from www.willowplace.co.uk

Work on the £35 million Willow Place shopping centre in Corby is to start on 19 June, says developer Land Securities.

The announcement follows hard on the heels of news that New Look is to relocate to the new scheme from its existing site in Corporation Street, joining TK Maxx and WH Smith as confirmed tenants. Talks are at an advanced stage with a number of other major retailers and further announcements are expected shortly.

New Look - recently voted best value for money retailer at the More Fashion Awards 2006 - is to take a 15,000 sq ft unit in the scheme being developed by Land Securities in the heart of Corby town centre.

Leading brands for less retailer TK Maxx is to be one of the two main anchor stores at Willow Place. The UK store group, which has over 200 outlets across the UK and Republic of Ireland, is renowned for selling designer and high street brands in womenswear, menswear, children, gifts and home at up to 60% less than recommended retail prices. The new
35,000 sq ft Corby TK Maxx store will typically stock over 50,000 items at any one time.

Meanwhile, leading bookseller and stationer WH Smith is virtually doubling its stake in the town. The retailer will vacate its existing premises in Queens Square during the summer and reopen in the new Willow Place shopping centre next year.

Land Securities Development Manager Mark Rymell says: ''I am delighted that we have secured such major brands as TK Maxx, New Look and WH Smith before we even start work on site. We will be working closely with the main contractor, HBG Construction, to ensure minimal disruption for residents, businesses and visitors to the town centre. Willow Place will open in October 2007.''

"This is great news and reflects the increasing momentum of Corby''s regeneration'', says Bob Lane, chief executive of North Northants Development Company. ''The physical transformation of this part of the town centre, proposed by Catalyst Corby''s Regeneration Framework, will soon be visible to all and provide further impetus to the Corby Central redevelopment programme.

''Willow Place will help re-establish Corby as a prime shopping location and substantially reduce the current expenditure leakage to neighbouring retail destinations."

AND ON ANOTHER TOPIC, NEIGHBOURING TOWN KETTERING IS FEELING THE PRESSURE....

Town to gear up in battle of shops - from www.corbytoday.co.uk

HIGH class shops are being sought to make sure Kettering will be able to compete with the multi-million pound developments planned for neighbouring Corby.

Concerns have been raised that unless new high street retailers are attracted to Kettering, existing businesses will lose out to the pull of a revamped Corby town centre.

Kettering Council assistant planning officer Adrian Lee says in a report to be handed to councillors at the planning policy committee next Thursday: "Kettering needs to ensure it gains enough retail development to reduce the potential impact to a minimum. "There is the possibility that if Corby grows as suggested and Kettering does not develop, Kettering will suffer."

Leader of Kettering Council Terry Freer said Kettering town centre was not being used to its full capacity, but steps were being taken to ensure the town does not fall behind in the retail stakes. He said: "Everyone wants to see high class shops and we want to attract national retailers to Kettering.
"This will then enable us to create a better environment to entice more shoppers. "Corby had a three-year head start on us with their programme of renovation and regeneration."

He said that schemes are in place to build offices and apartments and said: "Our town centre shopping centre is the sixth most prosperous in the East Midlands and that should be celebrated as a remarkable achievement. We are most certainly not a town centre in decline. "We have a wide range of shops and shoppers come from a wide area to enjoy our facilities."

Kettering town centre is waiting to receive £5m from the Government which will be used to spruce up dilapidated areas. Council senior planning officer Simon Richardson said: "Kettering town centre already performs well, however it is recognised that improvements in the quality and range of facilities and services in some sectors are required to meet growing expectations. "We are awaiting confirmation of a successful bid for £5m of Government funding to invest in improving the town centre and the range of retail opportunities it provides."

Manager of the Newlands shopping centre Neil Griffin said that only time would tell whether Kettering would suffer as a result of new developments in Corby. He said: "Kettering still has a lot to offer, we have a good standard of shops but we can't afford to sit back on our laurels. "Most shops here are let, we have very few vacant ones, but we can't stand still and I'd like to see the empty shops filled.
16 June 2006
 
#82 ·
MartinN said:
A town filled with cheap warehousing, dual carriageways, roundabouts and a horrible little shopping centre full of TK Maxx type stores. Horrible place.
The shopping centre is bad at the moment but if you'd read some of the previous posts, you'll see that that will change very soon. In addition, a masterplan is being devised for the entire town centre and from seeing the early drafts, it looks very promising.

And what exactly is wrong with roundabouts, they keep traffic flowing better than traffic lights do. Its not as if the town has a grid pattern, or nearly as many dual carriageways as Milton Keynes. The town has lots of green space/woodland, is surrounded by some beautiful countryside and equally beautiful villages and the regeneration plans are very daring for such a small town.

I'm also pretty sure most places have their fair share of warehousing and its no different in Corby - although the Northamptonshire area in general is a hotbed for logistics firms.

Wise investors will buy property in Corby at this time as it looks likely that the rail station will be delivered, which puts London just over an hour away. Its had a troubled past, but it has the potential to become a vibrant and attractive mid-sized town to live in.
 
#87 ·
Corby is an absolute dump and has been just about foreverbut that is just my opinion (and possibly a few others). However, I look at all these projects with great enthusiasm and jope the situation improves with it all. Good luck!
Cheers, it sure will improve (well it already is), keep your eyes peeled this week and maybe next for some new renderings of one of the large town centre projects.

:)
 
#88 · (Edited)
Corby is a town in the East Midlands (Northamptonshire) with big plans. With approximately 55,000 population, the aim is to double this to over 100,000 by 2031 and to completely regenerate the town in the process. Big developments currently under construction or on-site include:

- 50m Olympic-size Swimming Pool
- New Civic Hub
- £35 million Willow Place shopping development - www.willowplace.co.uk
- The Foster and Partners designed Corby Academy - www.corbyacademy.com
- Little Stanion, a development of 970 new homes
- Stanion Lane Plantation, a new national distribution centre/rail freight terminal
- Oakley Vale, a residential development of approx 3,000 new homes - www.oakleyvale.com

(last updated 10.07.07)

....................................................

These pictures are from the planning application for the new Corby Cube, a civic building that will comprise... well you'll see in the pictures. If approved, work is due to start on site in Spring 2007 with completion scheduled for 2009.

The application isn't just for the building itself, its also for extensive improvements to the public realm as detailed in the pictures....







Here's the phased landscape plans



This is the masterplan for Corby Town Centre and shows the location of the cube (marked as 'HUB' on the map) in relation to the rest of the town centre.


Directly opposite the Cube site, work is already ongoing at the new Willow Place shopping centre (marked on the masterplan as Retail Phase 1). Completion is scheduled for October 2007 and will transform the town centre from this...



To this...




There's a webcam on www.willowplace.co.uk which is updated every ten minutes.



The Cube application will shortly be joined by an application for a new Olympic-standard 50m swimming pool. The striking design for the new pool has been drawn up by S&P Architects, the practice responsible for the Manchester and Dublin Aquatic Centres. They are also supporting Zaha Hadid Architects in the design of the 2012 London Olympic Swimming Pool. A larger render to follow, but this is what it will look like...


For more information on the regeneration in Corby, Check out http://www.moreincorby.co.uk/northamptonshire/
 
#90 ·
Cube looks great. I cant believe Corby is to get an Olympic sized swimming pool and Birmingham hasnt already. Instead we have plans for a temporary water tank... Oh the possibilities :(
 
#91 ·
Looks like some really good proposals, especially liking the cube and in particular the attention that seems to have been paid to the landscaping with that stripy path. I think people always underestimate good landscaping, the coventry phoenix initiative is a really good example of what it can help to do.
 
#92 ·
I'm pretty impressed, especially with the Cube project. The massing is spot on, the linkages to other parts of the town centre has been thoroughly thought out and it is complimented by what seems to be high-quality materials, two small wind turbines and excellent landscaping.

The Willow Place development is also welcomed as it will create a new shopping street, will bring retailers to the town that Corby has never has as well as seeing the return of some retailers who have been absent for a number of years (Burton/Superdrug). The design is less impressive than the cube and CABE gave it a bit of a slating, but for the first phase of regeneration of the shopping centre, it can't come a minute too soon and it's certainly not bad looking.
 
#96 ·
Thought this was as good a place as any to post this!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/6215566.stm

Corby tops 'yob map' of England

One in two people in Corby believe anti-social behaviour is a problem
The Northamptonshire town of Corby has been named the "yob" capital of England in a spending watchdog report.
The National Audit Office used official figures to assess residents' perceptions of anti-social behaviour.

Analysis of the data suggested 48.8% of adults in Corby believed bad behaviour was a problem.

The study also suggests 17% of the population across England thought there were high levels of anti-social behaviour in general.

As part of its report The Home Office: Tackling Anti-Social Behaviour, the National Audit Office (NAO) said the percentage of people who believed anti-social behaviour was a problem had risen from 16% two years ago.


The worst 10 towns and cities
Corby 48.8
Mansfield 44.4
Hackney 42.7
Nottingham 42.7
Luton 42.7
Slough 42.0
Ashfield (Notts) 41.2
Knowsley (Merseyside) 39.2
Middlesbrough 39.3
Easington (Durham) 38.9
Percentage of adults who think anti-social behaviour is a problem

The survey of all English local authorities suggested almost one in two people believed so-called "yobbish" behaviour was a big or fairly big problem in Corby.

Corby Borough Council said it was responding positively to the report.

Council leader Pat Fawcett said: "It would be easy to say 'yes it's unfair' and pretend we're the victim, but we've take on board any criticism and want to move forward.

"It gives us a point where we can see what we did then - three years ago - and compare it with what's happening in Corby now.

"So we're really looking at this report to see the differences. It's a benchmark for the borough."

Inspector Gary Williams, the area commander, said some people were less tolerant of youngsters than they used to be - children playing football in the street were now perceived by some people as anti-social.

Bristol was named as the place with the fewest perceived anti-social problems with only 5.7% of residents describing it as a big or fairly big issue.

In second-best place was Staffordshire Moorlands, the area around Leek.

Mansfield in Nottinghamshire was second worst with 44.4%, then Hackney in east London and Nottingham, both with 42.7%.


The best 10
Bristol 5.7
Staffordshire Moorlands 6.0
Basingstoke and Deane 7.4
Wolverhampton 7.5
Leeds 8.9
Winchester 9.6
Sevenoaks 9.9
City of London 10.2
Richmond upon Thames 10.6
Blaby 10.8

Luton - the Bedfordshire town voted the worst in Britain in an online poll two years ago - came fourth with 42%.

The report also suggested about 55% of anti-social behaviour orders had been breached.

The Asbos were either breached by offenders committing more offences or by breaking the terms of the order.

The NAO said 35% of Asbo holders breached the order on five or more occasions, but the average number was four per person.

The government said the findings did not mean Asbos were failing.
 
#98 ·
You dont have to get all defensive of your fine town. I just couldnt find a thread called Corby's Social Problems (or any other thread about Corby come to that!) so just stuck it in here. I didnt think it deserved its own thread to be honest - just thought you may be interested. I was obviously wrong!
It wasnt meant as a personal attack - if you read deeper it is actually about the 'perception" of yobbish behaviour and in fact in many respects crime in Corby has dropped. Corby is on the up! I'm expecting an Olympic bid any day soon!
I'll know better than to post an article about Corby in this thread in future.

...and i forgive you for calling me a pleb because as it happens i am one.
 
#624 · (Edited)
Long time lurker, first time poster.

Born in Wellington, Shropshire, lived in what became Telford (24 years) until I moved away finally settling in Corby (10 years).

Is Corby better than Telford? Difficult to compare. Telford is an amalgamation of a number of already established district centres (as they are now - previously towns in their own right) leading to a spread out location which lends itself to the kind of estates and infrasturture (dual carriageways, open spaces, etc) that exist today. Corby is based around the Old Village (i.e. a one centre environment rather than Telford's multi centre environment) and, as such, is more compact with residential areas nudging elbows with retail and "green space" areas. The development that is taking place in Corby is fantastic and local people are finally starting to sound proud about their town again. As a non-native I think the town is much better than the press it's received and I think those who were born and bred here and lived through the hey days of the 60's and 70's have been disappointed to see it's decline and have contributed to the negative perception that Corby has suffered from. Not so much now.

As far as civic pride in Telford goes I don't see it (I still have close family there) and I don't really remember it. It is a more disparate town that Corby and, in my opinion, doesn't really have a heart and a soul. It used to - Wellington - but as the Town Centre has consumed more and more of the original car park it was built on the heart of the town has been lost in pursuit of a "retail heaven". Having said that I'm always happy to go back and visit Telford but I'd never want to live there again.

So, which is better? Can't say, they are too different.
 
#106 ·
Its about 53,000 people, is a former steel town that is undergoing a massive regeneration programme which will see the town double in size by 2031. Not sure if its better than Telford as i've never been but I have heard of one of the estates (woodside?) as we are taking lessons from there in regenerating one of our Radburn estates...
 
#107 ·
Yes its Woodside, I didn't realise it was that (in)famous. That is the worst area of town. I wish I had a time machine I would go back to the 1960s and slap TDC's planners untill they realised that forcing people to live in rabbit warrens was a stupid idea. I struggle to see how anyone thought that the Radburn principle was a good idea.

Telford has about 160,000 people and is the 2nd fastest growing town in England apparently.
She is home to the a world heritage site at Ironbridge which was the worlds first iron bridge and the area that Telford now covers was the Birthplace of Industry, but don't tell anyone from Manchester that because they all think that Manchester was.
 
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