A compulsory purchase order which will help pave the way for the University of Northampton’s £330m campus development has been approved by the Government.
The order covers land for a new road through Avon Nunn Mills – the largest site in the Northampton enterprise zone.
The brownfield site next to the River Nene includes a disused Avon Cosmetics factory as well as a former power station owned by Taylor Wimpey UK and Persimmon Homes.
In November last year, the landowners agreed a deal with West Northamptonshire Development Corporation (WNDC) and the University of Northampton.
It could see the area transformed into a waterside campus, with a new one-mile spine road.
WNDC chief executive Peter Mawson said: “The university campus will be an unprecedented development for Northampton, breathing new life into its town centre.
“It is the jewel in the crown of an exciting regeneration programme, with nearby projects ranging from a new railway station to riverfront offices starting construction this year.”
The University of Northampton is expected to submit a planning application this summer. Subject to approval and funding arrangements, building would could start in 2015 and be complete by 2018.
Professor Nick Petford, vice-chancellor at the University of Northampton said: “We are delighted the Secretary of State has approved the compulsory purchase order which will allow full development of the Avon Nunn Mills site.
“This compulsory purchase order places the university one step closer to realising our plans to create a state-of-the-art waterside campus.”