The site covers the Primrose Hill car park, Daventry’s current library and social services building, part of North Street and the Chapel Street car park near St John’s Square and the Moot Hall.

The plans would also see a small number of shops on the High Street, including where Argos is, demolished to create a new walkway to the £20 million development.

Developer Henry Boot’s plans, revealed exclusively to the Daventry Express, show two larger ‘anchor’ shops with 22 smaller units along a broad open-air pedestrianised area which has two new ‘squares’ with cafes, restaurants and bars.

The type of shops likely to move in include national clothing and homeware chains – although no specific companies have yet been named.

James Greenway, director of Henry Boot, said: “It’s a design with two main anchor stores with a range of other shops inbetween.

“National chains will go for the big anchor units, with national and regional brands looking at the smaller ones. We will have to relocate Argos as well.

“There are a few people we are talking to – big name brands. There’s strong interest for this site.

“Daventry has a lot of small units at the moment, and larger retailers can’t find the modern space they need.

“This is about creating a development so people don’t feel they have to travel elsewhere to find what they want.

“Daventry is a very affluent area and people are not being catered for with the current range.”

A planning application is expected to be submitted to the West Northamptonshire Development Corporation (WNDC) late in the summer, with the new library being built first on the Chapel Street car park.

Mr Greenway said: “We’ve been working with Northamptonshire County Council and the Library Service to come up with proposals for the new library, and we are just working with the WNDC to refine them at the moment.

“There’s quite a large civic space near the new library for people to meet and greet that will have cafes, bars and restaurants as well.”

Exactly what facilities will be provided in the new library are still being discussed, but the size of the building Henry Boot is being asked to provide still could be increased.

Because of the slope of the site downhill away from the High Street the new shops would have 280 car park spaces under them.

The developer’s public consultation is open between 10am and 3pm at Daventry Library on Friday May 23, Saturday May 24, Friday May 30 and Saturday May 31.

Plans and artists impressions will be on display, and representatives from Henry Boot will be there to answer questions and listen to comments.