Rushden Lakes hoping to boost food and drink offering with plans for additional 'pop-up' units

The Crown Estate has applied for planning permission for the ongoing operation of existing temporary ‘pop-up’ facilities and additional temporary ‘pop-up’ units at the retail and leisure attraction.

Planning documents state: "The proposals for additional temporary food and drink, retail and service facilities will supplement existing outlets for visitors and shoppers to the park.

"Notwithstanding the temporary nature of the facilities, the proposals are extremely small scale particularly in the context of Rushden Lakes as a whole.”

While Rushden Lakes has a range of food and beverage outlets, these are clustered around the western leisure terrace and the boardwalk area.

The site currently accommodates a ‘limited’ provision of food and beverage operators trading from ‘pop-up’ units such as Bubble Citea, The Chip Factory and Vaarista.

These are in the area between L’Occitane on the South Walk and Fat Face on the South Terrace with a further unit in Garden Square.

But if approved, the applicant says the additional ‘pop-up’ units would ‘help address the current underrepresentation of ancillary facilities for customers, particularly across the south terraces’.

The plans are for 13 ‘pop-ups’ – including the five existing ones – at five locations across the site.

Where possible, the applicant says it would try to let the proposed ‘pop-up’ units to independent and local operators, giving them an opportunity to ‘establish a presence and benefit from the overall draw of Rushden Lakes’.

It is proposed that the majority of the proposed units would take the form of Airstream style trailers, Citroën vans or comparable converted vehicles.

The Crown Estate, which owns Rushden Lakes, is proposing that the ‘pop-up’ units will operate under a flexible leasing model to balance long-term stability with ongoing variety for visitors.

Certain spaces will be offered to occupiers on short-term licences, ranging from a single weekend up to six months, while other pitches will be offered on longer leases of three to five years.

The planning documents say: “This approach will secure a stable core of long term tenants, whilst also retaining the flexibility to introduce new brands, trial different concepts, and refresh the offer in response to visitor expectations and seasonal demand.”

The application will be considered by North Northamptonshire Council.