Rushden Lakes

Rushden Lakes is a major leisure and retail scheme in Rushden, Northamptonshire. Occupying 30 acres of prominent brownfield land, the £140m development is uniquely positioned on the site of the old Skew Bridge ski club site and incorporates a 14 acre lake and SSSI woodland.

Working closely with architects HPW, Ubu produced the detailed designs that build on the landscape strategy previously prepared for the planning application, and which sensitively incorporate the lake and woodland into the design. Helping to set a new standard in retail and leisure experiences, the scheme includes 400,000 sq ft of retail and restaurant accommodation, a boathouse and lake for recreation and watersports, water features, restaurants and a visitor centre overlooking the water.

The scheme is being funded by The Crown Estate following its purchase from LxB Retail Properties PLC in 2015. Comprising three phases: phase 1, construction of three retail terraces and associated restaurants; phase 2, erection of an 11 screen cinema pre-let to Cineworld; and phase 3, for which a planning application will be submitted later this year, the project is set for completion in 2017.

Developer: LxB / The Crown Estate
Architect: HPW
Contractor: McClaren
Category: Retail
Status: Ongoing