Department store demolition 'to start this autumn'

Work to demolish two former department store buildings will begin this autumn, a council has revealed.

Asbestos is being removed from the old Marks and Spencer and BHS stores in Abington Street, Northampton, so that demolition can start.

Work on a new building which will combine residential flats with retail and leisure units is likely to begin this winter.

The BHS store closed in 2016 and the Marks and Spencer branch shut two years later.

The now-defunct Northampton Borough Council bought the vacated M&S building for £1.45m in 2020.

The old BHS outlet was originally sold to a developer but West Northamptonshire Council acquired it in 2022.

Various temporary shops have come and gone in the mean time, but now the old stores are to disappear.

Dan Lister, cabinet member for regeneration on the Conservative-controlled authority, said: "Works to strip asbestos from the former BHS unit on Abington Street commenced in April, with the works due to complete in late autumn.

"Once these works have been completed, the demolition of the site can commence, with detailed scopes currently being prepared ahead of the next phase of works which will commence in winter 2024/25.”

The council said it would "work with a development partner to deliver the project, which will involve the demolition of the existing buildings and the creation of a new ‘high-quality’ mixed-use building consisting of residential on the upper floor with modern retail and leisure units on the ground floor".

The plans are part of a £33m town centre regeneration project.

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