Rushden Lakes Retail Park.

An inspirational experience.

Rushden Lakes is a retail and leisure destination that is truly unique in its location. Environmental sustainability played a key part in the development, which is set in a 200-acre Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).

Investing in the environment.

The 230,000 square foot development is setting new standards in the sector, combining a high-end fashion shopping experience with the opportunity to explore the local natural environment and enjoy activities such as canoeing, cycling, and bird watching.

Achieving planning permission in this unique location meant designing services that were environmentally respectful, highly efficient, and sustainable. Further to the retail element of the project, the wider scheme included: a visitors’ centre, a marina and boathouse, footpaths, cycle routes through the SSSI, and access into neighbouring tourist attractions such as Stanwick Lakes.

Respected surrounding.

The visitors’ centre and boathouse was a key challenge for us. We started with the building envelope, getting this to work as hard as possible and specifying specially-selected equipment for high efficiency. Then, photovoltaics were installed to offset the remaining carbon – ultimately achieving net-zero energy compliance.

External lighting offered a further challenges as no illumination spill was allowed into the SSSI. We undertook numerous iterations of lighting simulations, used angled fittings to tightly control the distribution of light, and specified lights that reduce in height to deliver well-lit car parks. The result? A visually stunning destination in which people are immersed in a unique retail and wildlife experience.