Date Posted: 1/11/2009

Northamptonshire will grow despite locals protests!

Since the now defunct Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) initiated the process of planning for growth in this region, and the resultant birth of the West Northamptonshire Development Corporation (WNDC), Northamptonshire’s businesses and resident population have been wrestling with the notion that hundreds of thousands of new inhabitants are heading our way.

The debate has, at times, been ferocious, culminating so far in a demonstration march through Northampton town centre by one group of objectors.  Others have welcomed the planned expansion of Northampton and other towns within the county.  In fact Corby, Kettering and Wellingborough are far more advanced than Northampton as they already have planning consents or local plan allocations for over twenty thousand new homes.   WNDC have struggled to deliver similar success in the west of the county, partly because of opposition to their very existence but also because they have tried to be too ambitious.  It is rare that ambition is criticised, but blind ambition in the face of the toughest development and funding market since World War Two has only served to frustrate businesses trying to deliver the growth that ODPM set out and tasked WNDC to deliver.   

The positive effects of WNDC’s role are hard for many to identify.  At the time of writing they have not consented to any strategic delivery of land for housing or employment, other than parcels already within the last local plan.  Many would say that the previous planning authorities could at least have managed that.  In fact the main and long lasting contribution of WNDC so far is in terms of design standards and sustainability of development.  The environmental requirements of new development are among the toughest to achieve in the United Kingdom, which in itself has rendered certain schemes unviable, where land was purchased under the earlier planning regime. 

County based chartered surveyors Drake Commercial have undertaken a study that illustrates the problems being experienced by those local businesses wishing to prepare themselves in real estate terms for an upturn in demand for their products or services.  The study shows that businesses seeking ‘build to suit’ opportunities will readily find developers with land ready to accommodate new buildings but the cost of delivering such space compared to the rental or capital return just doesn’t add up;  therefore very little new development. 

In fact there are less than a handful of schemes in Northamptonshire that, in the last two years, have developed build to suit commercial property.  One such development is Ogee Business Park in Wellingborough where owners Stepnell Limited have so far completed design and build packages for three local businesses.  Robinson Manufacturing, Bedford Battery and Double R Glazing have all taken up the chance to have their own purpose built accommodation supplied to them.  The secret is in the approach of the developer, who is known for a hands on and creative approach to design and construction problems. 

So whilst some may be playing a waiting game there is a real opportunity to progress your aspirations at Ogee Business Park to have bespoke space constructed in any size of unit from 3,750 – 100,000 sq ft (348 – 9,383 sq m) over the 24 acre master planned development.

Elsewhere in the county Drake Commercial are acting for a number of occupier clients seeking large scale facilities that will collectively require 15 acres of land and up to 90,000 sq ft and with the prospect of directly employing up to 100 local people.  That is of course if our clients can gain planning consent from you know who!

Further information is available from Tony Drake or James Hill at Drake Commercial on 01604 620616, e mail tdrake@drakecommercial.net or jhill@drakecommercial.net

-END-Queries should be directed to James Hill of Drake Commercial – 01604 620616

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