Capital&Centric appointed to deliver Northampton’s new urban neighbourhood

25 November 2025

West Northamptonshire Council (WNC) has appointed social impact developer Capital&Centric as its development partner to breathe new life into a key site in Northampton town centre – transforming the former M&S and BHS department stores into a buzzing new neighbourhood.

The £70m scheme will see the creation of hundreds of new homes alongside restaurants, bars, cafés, and landscaped public spaces. The scheme will offer amenities including rooftop terrace, a resident gym, a mini cinema, co-working spaces, and more. Capital&Centric will seek to create an inclusive community that’s built to last, in a spot that’s primed for a new chapter.

The site – which includes the former M&S and BHS stores on Abington Street – has been vacant for years. Works to prepare the site, including deconstruction of the existing buildings is underway, clearing the way for development to kick on.

Cllr James Petter, Cabinet Member for Local Economy, Culture and Leisure at West Northamptonshire Council, said:

“This marks a major step forward in the regeneration of Northampton town centre. Capital&Centric are one of the UK’s most experienced developers when it comes to transforming complex town centre sites. They’ve delivered successful projects across the country, creating vibrant places where people want to live, work and spend time. Their expertise will help bring much-needed homes, jobs and opportunities to Northampton, supporting the wider regeneration of our town.”

John Moffat, Joint Managing Director at Capital&Centric, said:

“Northampton has massive potential, and this site is a game-changer for the town centre. We’re not interested in cookie cutter blocks, we’re creating a place where people want to live, work and hang out. This is about taking a tired part of town and making it somewhere that buzzes with life again. We’re pumped to be working with the council and the local community to bring this vision to life.”

The former department stores – M&S closed in 2018 and BHS in 2016 – were once cornerstones of Northampton’s high street. Their transformation marks a bold shift for the town, turning empty shells into a thriving new destination.

Capital&Centric’s plans will be refined in the months ahead, with community input shaping the final vision.