Demolition for derelict former shoe factory and other council-owned buildings in two Northamptonshire towns

North Northamptonshire Council’s (NNC) executive voted to knock down the Lawrence Factory site in Desborough and a number of council-owned properties in Saunders Close, Kettering, including the former Henley Day Centre.

The authority says the buildings have been subject to ongoing anti-social behaviour and arson attacks and were highlighted by the police as a safety risk. The report adds that the demolition will also address ‘eyesores and an aged estate’ within the council’s ownership.

Cllr Ken Harrington, executive member for assets, waste and environmental services, said that action on the two sites by the council was ‘long overdue’.

He said: “We must always be aware and responsible for the well-being of people in North Northants. We do know that people have been entering both these sites and we’ve had vandals.

“I believe this should have been dealt with for safety reasons, if no other, long before now.”

Council leader Martin Griffiths added that both the sites had been ‘a blot on the landscape’ for more than three decades and that clearing the buildings would be the first step in regeneration.

Since the Lawrence site was closed in the 1990s, the building has gone through many different plans for potential redevelopment, but none have come to fruition.

These included becoming a Tesco supermarket, an Aldi, a council-led social housing project and a collapsed deal to sell the site to the local Co-op group just last year.

Deputy leader, Cllr Eddie McDonald, also reflected on his time as a rural sergeant covering the area ten years ago and dealing with ‘countless instances of anti-social behaviour’.

“It was people going in setting fire, the kids hanging around causing damage,” he told members, “The biggest fear for that is, of course, the premises taking fire or falling down, killing the people inside.

“I just can’t believe that there hasn’t already been something sensible done with it. It will clear that site and allow an opportunity to improve the town of Desborough.”

Both demolition schemes are expected to cost up to £1.5m in total, which will be funded by council borrowing.

The executive member for finance said the one-off investment will put a stop to the burden of ongoing costs for 24/7 security, monitoring and emergency responses at the buildings.

For the Saunders Close site, this would reduce yearly maintenance and security costs from £135,000 to £15,000. NNC also says it has spent nearly £50,000 this year on the Lawrence site, which would be reduced to a ‘nominal amount’ after demolition.

While the premise of knocking down the buildings has now been approved by the council, planning permission will be required for any works to progress. It is hoped demolition will start in summer 2026.