Ashford Developments, the company behind the new £30 million Abbey Retail Park off South Way, has confirmed a 'discount food retailer' is interested in moving into the last remaining large empty unit on the site (Unit E).

Currently there are also a row of six smaller units facing onto Abbey Street that have remained unoccupied since the site was opened.

There was a rumour that Asda might be interested in the larger unit, but that has been discounted by Ashford.

Richard Ashford said: "We have received offers on a number of the Abbey Street units now and we are placing these under offer.

"I cannot say much as yet, but we are extremely happy with the interest to date. We have received interest in Unit E from discount food retailers but not Asda.

"Otherwise, all existing tenants are trading strongly despite the current climate."

The Daventry Express asked Netto if it was looking at opening a store in Daventry. The company said it had no comment. Netto already has a distribution warehouse in the town on the Drayton Fields industrial estate and a shop in Rugby.

Glenda Simmonds, deputy chairman of Daventry Town Council, said: "I think another discount food shop would probably bring more shoppers into the town centre, and that has to be a good thing for the rest of the retailers.

"The other thing is that with the economy being the way it is people are looking for ways to save money. I can't see it being a problem"

Major construction work ended at Abbey Retail Park on Christmas Eve and the first shop - Carpetright - opened two days later.

Over the following months other stores followed, with Homebase being the last new shop there opening at Easter.