Plans for 26 homes above the shopping centre are still going ahead, despite the purchase.
"Shop 'til you drop", they say.
That's all well and good if you've got deep pockets. But for the rest of us, a visit to the nearest shopping centre often leaves us penniless.
Still, if you fancy spending a small fortune, here's a list of the nearest shopping centres to IP15 5NA, so you can 'splash the cash'.