Environment Secretary John Gummer has served Article 14notices on four proposed factory outlet and leisure schemes in the East Midlands.
Should Gummer decide to call them in, large-scale retail development in Northamptonshire could be held up for months while competitors battle it out in planning appeals.
According to a spokesperson for one of the planning departments concerned: “There has been no clear reasoning put forward by the DOE for this. But obviously they consider these to be major shopping proposals.” He added that at most the region could only sustain one of the large proposals or two of the smaller ones.
The largest development would be at Wilby Way, Wellingborough, where Hampton Brook is proposing a 13,935 sq m (150,000 sq ft) factory outlet scheme with leisure facilities on 80ha (200 acres).
The second largest development would be at Rushden, north-west of Kettering. Freeport Developments has submitted plans for 8,500 sq m (91,496 sq ft) of factory outlet shopping and 3,500 sq m (37,675 sq ft) of leisure on 9.3ha (23 acres) on the A45. East Northamptonshire Council has backed the proposal, subject to DOE approval.
To the south-east of Daventry, in the village of Weedon, Cavalry is proposing the redevelopment of the former Royal Ordnance Depot on 7.4ha (18.2 acres). The proposed scheme comprises: a Fire Service National Museum (16,800 sq m/180,840 sq ft); factory warehousing (9,100 sq m/97,955 sq ft); pub and restaurant (6,030 sq m/64,908 sq ft); workshop (1,200 sq m/12,917 sq ft) and offices (540 sq m/5,813 sq ft).
Parlison Properties also has plans for a 9,290 sq m (100,000 sq ft) factory outlet centre on 6ha (15 acres) in Thrapston, south-west of Oundle.BAA McArthur Glen rumoured to be planning outlet village for Wellingborough.
EGi News 02/07/96
