New images of what Corby town centre eyesore could look like if Travelodge and Starbucks come to town

A fifteen-year plan to develop Corby's Parkland Gateway could finally be completed after a plan was submitted to Corby Council to build apartments and a hotel on the remaining plot of land.

The site adjacent to Corby's central woodland is already home to the swimming pool, the James Ashworth VC Square, the Corby Cube, the Savoy Cinema and the town's restaurant quarter.

Now, Mulberry Commercial Developments want to build a 70-bed hotel, drive-thru and sit-in coffee shop and 92 apartments on the former Tresham College site to develop what has become an eyesore since the buildings were demolished in 2011.

The plot is owned by Homes England and leased to Mulberry. It is understood the delay in developing the site was down to the economic downturn as well as a disagreement over the overall usage of the site. That issue has now been smoothed-over and the application can finally now progress.

Although the tenants for the hotel and coffee shop have not been publicly named, the Northants Telegraph can reveal that Travelodge and Starbucks are being tipped locally as the interested parties.

Mulberry Developments was also responsible for the town's successful Savoy Cinema development and, in its previous incarnation as Greatline Developments, overhauled the controversial Tesco site in Oakley Road. The Tesco land, which was was sold by Corby Council to Greatline for £82,000 and then sold on to an off-shore company for a jaw-dropping £43m a few years later, led to the council's parting of ways with its colourful former chief executive Chris Mallender.

Two separate planning applications have been submitted to Corby Council following a public consultation earlier this year which Mulberry says was broadly supportive of the plan.

The apartments would be based in four separate buildings and would have dedicated parking spots.

The design and access statement submitted to planners states that the hotel would have its own 31 parking spaces, adding: "A large hotel chain with hotels across the UK, as well as in Ireland and Spain could offer great employment opportunities to people of the town and a recognised quality standard to encourage visitors to stay. •

"The large hotel brands are usually able to offer value, rooms that are both modern, comfortable and affordable.

"There is only one other hotel within a 15 minute walk from Corby town centre's main shopping quarters."

The plans also include a coffee shop. Documents in the planning application state: "A globally-recognised brand has expressed an interest in the new unit in Corby.

"Many individuals make special journeys to this chain ‘as a treat’, this could therefore positively impact neighbouring businesses and the local shopping centre, as there will be more people visiting this location.

"The chain is not currently represented in Corby Town Centre, with the nearest being located several miles drive away, on the edge of the town.

"The chain's new shop would provide local people with employment opportunities locally and development potential being part of a larger organisation."

Mulberry's planning statement goes on: "The scheme proposed is one that is economically viable whilst creating an attractive home environment for future residents.

"The density of the scheme, whilst it could be greater, respects the adjacent ancient woodland. It also reacts to the challenging levels on the existing site.

"The properties are conveniently located and suitable for both young and old, with central town access for shopping all within a short walk, good access to public transport links and access to the vibrant local night-life.

"The proposal develops a prime central site with a scheme that, when combined with the hotel, can be suitably integrated into the existing town centre.

"The design is sympathetic to the existing surroundings and enhances the town centre. The design has evolved through a considered process and has been continually re-assessed against the client's brief and borough council's aspirations during the design and consultation process."

You can view and comment on the application for the apartments here and for the hotel hereHistory of the site

Like much of Corby, the former town centre site was originally owned by the Brudenells of Deene Park.

The original Corby Technical College opened on September 16, 1940, to 21 students and was called JTS.

JTS developed from a small number of workshops to Corby Technical College where expansion at the college led to more buildings in George Street and Rockingham Road.

The site in George Street opened as Corby Technical College’s engineering department on September 16, 1957. Mr A J Price was the principal at the time and remained to see the college develop and introduce the building department on September 11, 1958, the commercial department on September 10, 1959, and finally the science department, which moved to the premises on September 8, 1960.

The George Street campus was officially opened on October 20, 1961, by Sir John Cockroft.

On January 11, 1978, the merger of Corby and Kettering technical colleges was announced and was renamed as Tresham College.

The site closed in 2011 and was replaced with a larger, modern premises in Oakley Road.