Northampton Waterside Enterprise Zone is set to benefit from a high-fashion deal that could create up to 150 jobs and support the growth of a global brand based in Northampton.
Northampton Borough Council has brokered a deal that would see a vacant bus depot on the edge of the Enterprise Zone transformed into a location for Prada-owned shoe factory, Church’s, to expand. The expansion will bring investment, job creation and growth to the Enterprise Zone.
With access to different sources of funding, the Borough Council is able to bring this land together quickly for redevelopment.
Councillor David Mackintosh, Leader of Northampton Borough Council said:
“Our Enterprise Zone is home to some major global brands and this is an opportunity to support one of these companies with their ambitions to grow in Northampton.
“The St James Depot is a prime site in the Enterprise Zone and it is important that the site is part of the exciting growth and development of the area and contributes to the wider regeneration of the town. The building has been part of our town’s landscape for over a century and the action we are taking will see the site swiftly brought back into use, and another successful Northampton Alive project delivered.
“This will not only create jobs, but see investment into a traditional Northampton-based company, which will see more high quality shoes being sold around the world with the ‘made in Northampton’ mark proudly displayed.”
Stephen Etheridge at Church & Co Ltd said:
“At Church’s we are proud to be part of Northampton’s heritage and the town’s bright future. It is an exciting time for us, and with our current site at maximum capacity with no room to develop, we have been exploring a number of different options. The Enterprise Zone gives us the opportunity to secure the long-term future of the brand in St James which we consider to be key as we continue to develop and grow.”
Further details are set to be discussed by Councillors at the Guildhall next week at a meeting of Northampton Borough Council’s Cabinet on Wednesday 11 September.
For more information on Northampton Waterside Enterprise Zone see: http://northamptonez.co.uk/enterprise-zone/.
