Kier Property has been awarded a £50m contract to build prestige offices within Northampton’s Waterside Enterprise Zone.
The 215,000sq ft business development is on a five-acre brown field site at St Peter’s Waterside between the River Nene and St Peter’s Way. Preparation work, including the demolition of a gasometer, ten houses and four business units, has already been completed with construction expected to start early next year.
West Northamptonshire Development Corporation chief executive, Peter Mawson, said there had been a lot of interest from developers and that it had been a highly competitive process.
Council leader David Mackintosh said; “The area around St Peter’s Way has long been in need of redevelopment. While this new scheme will provide modern commercial properties, forming an important part of the Northampton Waterside Enterprise Zone’s offer, it is just part of our town’s massive regeneration programme.
“The amount of progress we are making far outstrips the national trend, leading to a high level of private sector confidence, which is reflected in the speed with which Northampton is recovering from recession.”
Kier Group’s property arm is a major UK developer, with a portfolio taking in offices, industrial units, retail and mixed-use schemes. St Peter’s Waterside is one of a number of developments Kier is working on in Northampton, including the North Gate Bus Station and a student accommodation complex.
The company says it is delighted to have been selected as preferred developer and that they are looking forward to delivering the scheme.
The St Peter’s Waterside offices are part of a growing commercial district adjacent to the University of Northampton new £330m campus, an Innovation Centre, and opposite a £20m railway station.
Up to 55 small businesses will be accommodated in the state-of-the-art centre and will have access to support from the University of Northampton’s Inspire2Enterprise service. The £8.5m project is being jointly funded by the WNDC and University of Northampton.
“The Innovation Centre will be a flagship for the social enterprise sector and will specialise in business support, which is rapidly expanding across the UK and internationally,” explained Terry Neville, chief operating officer at the university.
“Encouraging enterprise and entrepreneurship is crucial to the University of Northampton and significantly enhances the experience and employability prospects we offer to our students. Occupants will also benefit from its central location and super-fast broadband.”
The St Peter’s innovation centre is the third the university has built in partnership with the WNDC, after the county’s iCon and Portfolio Centres. “With its quality design and high profile location, we’re sure it will be just as successful,” added Peter Mawson.
