Innovation Cube gets go-ahead
Plans to build the first speculative office development in Northampton in years have overcome a major hurdle.
The borough council has green-lighted plans for the Innovation Cube – a 40,000 sq ft centre for small businesses and start-ups, being led by West Northants Development Corporation (WNDC).
The building, opposite the town’s railway station, is set to include offices for up to 60 businesses, meeting rooms and a conference area. It is now awaiting approval from WNDC’s own planning committee, expected in January 2012.
The Innovation Cube marks the first step in plans to build 463,000 sq ft of mixed use development in the rundown St Peter Waterside area.
WNDC is part-funding the £6.5m Innovation Cube but is looking for co-investment from the private sector and the University of Northampton.
"The Innovation Cube will be a landmark building in a prominent location, and create a gateway to a large areas of the town," WNDC director of regeneration, Chris Garden told Insider.
"We lack good quality office space in central Northampton – it’s mainly 70s and 80s stock – as many employers have migrated to the edge of the town. We need to reverse that."
