A public inquiry will consider a Compulsory Purchase Order for the largest site in the Northampton Waterside Enterprise Zone.

Led by West Northamptonshire Development Corporation, the CPO has been launched to enable a major mixed-use development at the Avon Nunn Mills site. The public inquiry will start on 13 November and is expected to run for approximately two weeks.

Covering 20 hectares of brownfield land along the River Nene, the site includes a disused factory owned by Avon Cosmetics and a former power station owned by Taylor Wimpey and Persimmon. The proposed CPO also covers an area of land in unknown ownership, which is required for a new road.

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Peter Mawson, WNDC's Chief Executive said: "Avon Nunn Mills is the largest site in the Northampton Enterprise Zone and is at the forefront of local regeneration plans. With its prominent waterfront location, the area is ideally suited for major mixed-use development.

"The Compulsory Purchase Order is a vital part of our strategy for securing a comprehensive and high quality scheme. Meanwhile, work is already underway at nearby sites in the Enterprise Zone, including a £20m bottling plant for Carlsberg UK. Next year, we will start the construction of a new and improved Northampton Railway Station in the centre of the Zone."

Stretching across 120 hectares of brownfield land, the Northampton Waterside Enterprise Zone is encouraging commercial development in a range of sectors, including high performance technologies. Alongside the CPO, WNDC has invited expressions of interest from prospective development partners for the Avon Nunn Mills site. A positive response has been received from a wide range of interested developers.