Nene Valley tourist site rises up with steelwork

Structural steelwork is under way on the Rushden Lakes leisure, retail and tourism development in the Nene Valley, Northamptonshire.

Covering an area of 244 acres, the £55M development will include three main steel-framed retail buildings, requiring nearly 2,000t of steel and currently being erected by Caunton Engineering.

In consultation with the Wildlife Trust and Natural England, project architect HPW has designed the buildings to include extensive renewable energy systems.

The three blocks consist of a House of Fraser store, another block accommodating Marks and Spencer and Primark, and one further retail structure.

Working on behalf of main contractor Winvic Construction, Caunton will also be supplying and erecting the steel for three further smaller buildings to house restaurants overlooking the site’s lake.

The first retail units on the site are scheduled to open in early 2017.