The Crown Estate-owned Rushden Lakes is the new retail and leisure destination in Northamptonshire, which is set to redefine the UK retail landscape, and has just started the phased opening.
The unique offer at Rushden Lakes sees big name fashion and boutique premium brands combined with lakeside dining and a range of leisure activities which include canoeing, cycling, walking and bird watching, all in beautiful countryside surroundings.
Phase one of this ground-breaking shopping and leisure development offers 230,000 sq ft of retail situated adjacent to stunning lakes and set in over 200 acres of SSSI (Site of Special Scientific Interest) reserve, operated in partnership with The Wildlife Trusts.
The first phase of Rushden Lakes will see more than 40 retailers, restaurants, cafes and leisure providers opening their doors. The phased opening has just started, with stores continuing to open throughout the summer, and culminates with a full launch weekend in late September 2017.
Retailers confirmed to be opening today include Marks & Spencer, which is launching a full range store including home and instore cafe, Primark, New Look, JD Sports and H&M.
Leisure at Rushden Lakes aims to connect a new audience with outdoor activities, nature and wildlife. The leisure offer is anchored by the Nene Wetlands Visitor Centre from The Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire (BCN), the first such centre in the region, and the Boathouse from local canoe and boating experts Canoe2.
The beautiful lakes have been made accessible by Canoe2, who will provide hire of canoes, kayaks and swan pedalos on the lake, as well as offering short break adventures and camping across the Nene Valley.
Hannah Milne, director of Regional Retail, at The Crown Estate, said, “Rushden Lakes is the first of its kind; a shopping and leisure destination which combines big name fashion, premium retail and new brands coming to Northamptonshire for the first time.
'Rushden Lakes is not only shaped by its natural surroundings, it puts the environment at the heart of its offer. Our mission is to create brilliant places, and with Rushden Lakes we see this ambition becoming a ground-breaking reality.”
Emily King, store manager for M&S Rushden Lakes, commented, “The new store has created 150 jobs for the area and as a team we’ll be working hard to put the customer at the heart of everything we do, bringing the very best of M&S to Rushden Lakes shoppers”.
Future phases of Rushden Lakes, which will deliver a 14-screen cinema from Cineworld, trampolining and more retail, continue to be led by LXB and phase 2 is expected to open in 2019.