The much anticipated opening of the HPW Architecture designed Rushden Lakes took place on Friday [28th July] with the first customers arriving at 2.00 am to make sure they benefited from everything the day could offer them. Both Rushden Lakes’ landlord The Crown Estate, and the onsite management team, were delighted with the footfall numbers and visitor reactions which continued throughout the weekend.
As part of a phased opening, 22 stores opened at the weekend which included Clarks with a new concept store, Marks and Spencer, Primark, H&M, JD Sports, Boots, Holland & Barrett and Fat Face. L’Occitane, White Stuff, Joules and Jigsaw also opened new stores, the first time they have come to Northamptonshire.
House of Fraser will be amongst the next group of stores to open over the August Bank Holiday. It’s the company’s first new store in nearly a decade and will boast a six metre wide, eight metre tall “Living / Green wall” in the central escalator skylight-well in the centre of the shop.
Once completed, Rushden Lakes will have some 400,000 sq ft of retail and leisure space developed by LXB on a brownfield site. Located at the entrance to the 200 acre Nene Valley Nature reserve, an SSSI (Site of Special Scientific Interest) operated in partnership with The Wildlife Trusts, its aim is to help connect shoppers with wildlife, nature and the outdoors. With so much on offer, visitors can make their visit a real experience to remember.
HPW Architecture Managing Director, Gary Wilburn, spent the opening day talking to visitors and retailers to get their thoughts on Rushden Lakes; “Everyone I spoke to was genuinely delighted that the scheme was open and hugely impressed with what they saw and experienced during the day. Watching those who had taken advantage of the shopping offers gravitating to the edge of the lake to take pictures of the scenery was great to see.
“HPW also had some fantastic comments on our involvement and we are delighted to have been part of this pioneering development. We believe our association with the scheme reinforces HPW as leading architects, sustainable designers and experts in dealing with sensitive and environmentally complex projects.”
Customers waited eagerly at the stores’ doors so they could benefit from the fantastic opening day offers and bargains. While this meant that the car park filled up early, the onsite parking team did a terrific job of managing the traffic flows and visitors soon got used to the new road layouts. The new foot and cycle bridge was also used extensively and people were excited to be crossing it for the first time in order to get to the site.
Canoe hire specialist Canoe2 has fitted out its new onsite shop from recycled timber and local materials all of which were inspired by HPW. Having been based locally for many years, the move to Rushden Lakes is a major milestone in the company’s history.
Gary Wilburn Adds: “Talking to a number of the retail managers and staff, they have all embraced the unique setting that Rushden Lakes provides and have gone the extra mile with their shop fit-outs and investment in the site.
“Visitors were keen to share their enthusiasm for Rushden Lakes with us; ‘it will enhance the town and is a fantastic asset to the area’, ‘we love what you have created’, ‘you should be very proud’. There is such pride in the place and the whole HPW team, many of whom have been involved from the initial concept to the weekend opening, feel we have delivered not only something truly unique, but also an amazing legacy for the Nene Valley and the wider environment. “We feel like proud parents and wish all those involved with Rushden Lakes, the greatest of success for many years.”
