If you are anticipating the opening of Rushden Lakes, the UK’s newest shopping centre in 2017, you may be delighted to hear about the latest lottery funding project. The Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire recently released details of their development plan. Their application to the Heritage Lottery Fund was successful and they secured £662,800 worth of funding to create a new nature reserve. The soon-to-open regional shopping centre is hoping to becoming an internationally important wildlife centre. It will integrate the shopping experience with nature and invite shoppers to experience both worlds.
About Rushden Lakes
Rushden Lakes opens in spring 2017 and will bring jobs and tourism to Nene Valley. The idea to create a wildlife and conservation area next to the shopping centre is a new concept in retail experience. It is expected to be popular with everyone, but also bring some much needed funds to the area. Nene Wetlands some of the most impressive wildlife areas in Northamptonshire. They attract nature lovers every year, but with this new development, it is hoped that it will bring eve more people in. The developer of the shopping centre will create a visitor centre at the lakeside and hopes to attract as many as 500,000 visitors annually.
It is also expected to be one of the growing number of eco buildings. Retail parks are amongst the most energy intense public access buildings. If successful, Rushden Lakes could become famous for more than simply shopping. Nene Wetlands is home to 20,000 migratory birds every year. There is concern that growing traffic will put pressure on the site. This eco approach looks to be a great way of engaging the public and reducing environmental damage. With this HLF fund, Rushden Lakes could become the greenest shopping centre ever. Perhaps others will follow suit?