The biggest jobs boost for 20 years
Artist's impression More than 20 leading UK retail chains, including a large Marks & Spencer, will fill a new �50m shopping park planned to open near Rushden. The Rushden Lakes centre will provide 1,500 jobs, bring several household name stores to the area and potentially attract 3 million visitors a year .
Jobcentre bosses say plans for a new shopping centre could be the biggest boost to the jobs market since the decline of the shoe industry.
The £50m Rushden Lakes development would bring a total of 1,630 jobs if it is given the go-ahead by East Northamptonshire Council.
Jobcentre bosses in Wellingborough and Rushden say the scheme would help employ the 3,387 jobless people across the two towns, and those further afield in Corby and Kettering.
Sonia Rea, manager of Wellingborough Jobcentre Plus, said: “This scheme could be the ‘shot-in-the-arm’ that north Northamptonshire has been waiting for following the demise of our shoe and leather industry.”
Alan Gordon-Smith, manager of Rushden Jobcentre Plus, said: “While the Rushden Lakes proposal is obviously potentially very good news for Rushden and Wellingborough, the positive employment impact on neighbouring Corby and Kettering should also not be understated.”
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Thursday 24 May 2012
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Comments
There are 10 comments to this article
Page 1 of 1
Aliss
Wednesday, February 22, 2012 at 10:45 PMVictor Stirling said that the shopping experience in Wellingborough "can only be described as dreary". That's simply not true, there are plenty of other words. Dull, unpleasant, ugly, dated, dark, unwelcoming, dirty - all words which spring to my mind. It's a shame - there are some nice people there, trying hard, but when you've got that monstrosity squatting in the centre of the town leeching out any pleasantness, well, um, ugh.
ruby123
Wednesday, February 22, 2012 at 08:16 PMWith the current trend for internet shopping, ever increasing petrol prices and the lack of cash in customers pockets, will this really be a big success?
Victor Stirling
Wednesday, February 22, 2012 at 07:38 PM@ il Capitano They tried that in the 70's by ripping up Wellingborough town centre and plonking that great hideous complex called the Swansgate in its place, yet the shopping experience in the town can only be described as dreary.
il Capitano
Wednesday, February 22, 2012 at 06:47 PMso why do some towns and cities manage it? instead of building a shopping centre in the middle of nowhere, why not bulldoze some ugly run down inner town buildings and other derelict areas and build it there? for example, the lower street area of kettering and the newland centre is pretty tatty and outdated. knock it down and put decent high quality unitsZbuildings there!
nad
Wednesday, February 22, 2012 at 06:00 PMShopping has change, the idea that shopping should be done in town centres is outdated and no longer practical. Filling empty shops in the surrounding area is not practical, no large retailers are going to be interested in setting up a shop in such a limited environment.
KEVJS
Wednesday, February 22, 2012 at 03:32 PMIf Rushden shoppers weren't prepared to pay Peter Crisps high prices, I can't see M&S benefiting.
Same Old Same Old
Wednesday, February 22, 2012 at 12:52 PMNew jobs created but when? Will be at least 5 years down the line before anything happens down there. The councils of Wellingborough, Rushden and Higham Ferrers should be concentrating on filling the empty shops in their High Streets before building this, as it'll be the final nail in the coffin to each town.
SL2
Wednesday, February 22, 2012 at 12:13 PMGreat news for new jobs being created, however with the Newlands in Kettering and the Swansgate in Wellingborough seriosuly struggling, how long will these jobs last?
Victor Stirling
Wednesday, February 22, 2012 at 11:08 AMWhat's the betting that the new jobs created will be filled by those forced to work for there JSA?
Mark Dragilocevic
Wednesday, February 22, 2012 at 08:45 AMAn excellent plan that could greatly benefit the local economy and jobs market. However, care must be taken to prevent a further decline of footfall from our traditional town centres to out of town centres such as this
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