Plans to transform the heart of Daventry look set to take significant steps forward in 2010 with progress planned on a range of town centre development sites.

Daventry District Council is working with a range of partners, including West Northamptonshire Development Corporation (WNDC), on fulfilling its Town Centre Vision, to improve amenities in Daventry for local people and visitors and to accommodate the expansion of the town in the years ahead.

Projects which look set to move forward over the next 12 months include:

• Proposals for a New library and 75,000 sq ft of new shops north of High Street (Site 1), also known locally as the Primrose Hill/Chapel Lane development. Henry Boot, the Council’s development partner, is expected to submit a planning application in the summer, following a further period of public consultation. Last year saw preliminary investigative works carried out on the site in question and the preliminary round of public consultation take place. Following a competitive tender process, DDC entered into a development agreement for both this site and Site 5 with Henry Boot plc in August 2007. Subject to obtaining planning approval, enabling work on this site could start by 2011. The redevelopment of Site 5 (Town Centre West Warwick Street/Waterloo through to Chaucer Way) is expected to follow on from Site 1, although a planning application may also be submitted during 2010 as well.

• Construction work has also started on the pioneering iCon Centre off Eastern Way, which will provide state-of-the-art research facilities for businesses in the emerging market of sustainable construction, including office units for business start-ups and a 300-seat conference facility. Despite not being complete, the building won an MKSM Excellence Award last December, reflecting the high quality of the landmark development and the huge impact it will make on Daventry and the wider region. In addition, the winners of a school arts competition to decorate the safety hoardings around the site were recently announced. The winning pictures will be erected on the hoardings in February. The contractors have cleared the existing site and are preparing it for development. One of the main tasks has been diverting the existing services that currently run through the site, including gas, water and electric connections. The next significant activity will be at the beginning of February when some of the structural supports for the iCon will be driven into the ground, in a process known as piling. A webcam has been set up and will allow people to watch the building take shape. It can be viewed at www.icon-em.org

Contractors Winvic Build were appointed to build the landmark centre, which is being funded by West Northamptonshire Development Corporation, the European Regional Development Fund and East Midlands Development Agency. Daventry District Council and Northamptonshire County Council have donated land and car parking for the project.

As part of WNDC’s ground breaking Construction Futures training scheme, some trainees from the local area have started work with Winvic on the iCon development. Created in partnership with Northamptonshire Enterprise, Construction Futures uses s106 agreements with developers to provide young people with high quality, on-site training alongside a formal college course. Trainees will be engaging in the full range of construction activities from project management to bricklaying and carpentry.

• A second public consultation is also due to take place on proposals for the WaterSpace (Site 3) when the scheme reaches pre-application stage later this year.

• Other town regeneration projects, including the redevelopment of the Marches industrial estate and community facilities, are also set to move forward. Work on an eco-friendly new headquarters and manufacturing building for Hi-Force Engineering, on Prospect Way, is proceeding well despite the adverse weather in early January. This important step in the regeneration of the Royal Oak Industrial Estate will support jobs and exports, generating value for the UK.

Councillor Chris Over, Economic, Regeneration and Employment Portfolio Holder at Daventry District Council said : “2010 looks set to be an excellent year for improving and enhancing Daventry town centre as the Council and its partners look towards progressing a range of development projects as part of the Daventry Town Centre Vision.

“Last year saw the first of many significant physical changes to Daventry’s landscape, with the opening of the new Abbey Retail Park and undercroft car park off Welton Road and the new purpose-built premises for the 2nd Daventry Scouts. We hope to continue this momentum into 2010 and beyond, to improve the facilities available to both residents and visitors into the town.”

Roger Mendonca, Chief Operating Officer at West Northamptonshire Development Corporation commented “It’s a very exciting time for the people of Daventry. The town centre has already witnessed some significant improvements during the past year, but there is even more to come and projects like the award winning iCon will really put the town on the map. It’s particularly pleasing to see the local community so involved in new development, whether that’s through initiatives like our Construction Futures Training scheme, or the recent iCon school arts competition”

For more details on the Town Centre Vision, go to www.daventrydc.gov.uk/daventry-development

Related posts:

1. Daventry iCon Shortlisted for Top Award
2. Daventry iCon wins top award
3. The iCon goes back to school
4. Winners of Daventry School Art Competition Announced
5. Breakthrough construction training scheme starts in Daventry