Demolition complete at former department store site

The demolition of two former department stores has been described as a "major step forward" for a town centre.

West Northamptonshire Council said work to knock down the old Marks & Spencer and BHS site on Abington Street in Northampton, had been completed following a nine-month project.

It will be developed into a new mixed-use building, with flats on the upper floors and retail and leisure units on the ground floor.

The site has been empty since Marks & Spencer shut in 2018 and BHS in 2016.

The Reform UK-controlled council said work included asbestos removal, internal soft stripping, full demolition and removal of slabs and foundations.

Kamala Guliyeva, the council's cabinet member for local economy, culture and leisure, said: "The completion of these demolition works is a significant milestone for Northampton town centre.

"We are committed to bringing forward high-quality development that supports our local economy and helps breathe new life into the town centre, and this work lays the foundations for that next chapter."

Titus Akpan, assistant project manager for Colemans, who carried out the demolition, said: "This was a complex project in a busy environment, and our team worked hard to deliver it safely, efficiently and with minimal disruption.

"Sustainability has been a key focus throughout, with materials carefully managed and recycled wherever possible."

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