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