Out-of-town M&S Foodhall recommended for approval

An out-of-town Marks & Spencer Foodhall has been recommended for approval after "overwhelming" public support, a council has said.

West Northamptonshire Council will make a final decision on the development, at a former Homebase store at Northampton's Riverside Retail Park, on 19 March.

As first reported by the Northampton Chronicle & Echo, the project has faced delays since plans were first submitted in May 2024 due to traffic concerns and an objection from Tesco, which operates a supermarket at the nearby Weston Favell Shopping Centre.

A planning report stated the scheme would bring a long-vacant unit back into use and improve the range of shops at the retail park.

In their report, planning officers at the Reform UK-controlled council said: "The scheme delivers clear economic benefits, including substantial job creation, new investment, and improved retail choice."

They added an independent review found "no significant adverse effect on the vitality or viability of Northampton town centre or other designated centres."

The report said the development would include a traffic signal upgrade at the nearby A45/A43 Lumbertubs interchange.

It noted that more than 100 comments in support of the development had been received, with Tesco the only property to object.

Tesco warned the new M&S Foodhall could impact footfall in other shopping areas, and suggested the retailer should have instead considered the vacant Sainsbury's unit in Northampton's Grosvenor Centre.

However, the report said it was "clear" the former Sainsbury's in the town centre was "not commercially viable for the proposed development".

Follow Northamptonshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.