People could be living in homes at the new Stanton Cross development by the “middle of 2016”, according to the developer.
Bovis has started work on the development near the railway station on the east of the town, which is set to deliver 3,200 homes and 7,500 new jobs within 15 years.
The station will be enhanced and there will also be a country park, schools, a doctor’s surgery and shopping facilities as part of the largest growth the town will see since the 1960s.
Bovis’ Managing Director for the South Midlands Region John Lougher gave an update on the project at the latest in Wellingborough Chamber of Commerce’s series of Business Briefing events held on Friday, May 8.
He said: “We are looking forward to really getting it moving now as it’s taken a long time to get to the starting line. We are working towards people starting to buy the homes at Stanton Cross by the middle of 2016 which will also mean further employment opportunities.”
Responding to a question by Simon Toseland – director of commercial property agents Prop-Search, which has an office in the town – about how many houses would be built each year, Mr Lougher said: “On the rate of delivery on the private housing, we will look to be building 250 units per year as a long-term plan.
“In 2016 we are looking to build 100 units and then will be aiming to step this up to 250 by 2017. It’s very hard to look forward 15 years, it might be if the economy further strengthens the building rate will increase.”
More than 50 business representatives from the area attended the event at Weatherbys Limited, Sanders Road, on the outskirts of the town.
David Cross, chamber president, said: “The business community of Wellingborough is starting to realise that this might be our time. Major developments are finally starting to happen, which will not boost the local economy and create jobs but also enhance Wellingborough’s position on the map.”
Wellingborough East/Stanton Cross has been in the planning stage for over a decade.