New Buxton high street plan backed by two-thirds of respondents, say council

As part of its bid for a share in the Government’s £1 billion Future High Street Fund (FHSF) last month the council revealed plans to build a new pedestrian street from the train station and a new public square.

The council has also set out hopes for new leisure attractions such as a cinema, gym and family restaurants and developing a new multi-level car park behind The Springs.

However the proposals later came under fire from town groups such as Vision Buxton, and the Civic Association for placing too much emphasis on locating shops and accommodation outside of Spring Gardens.

A town architect even penned his own vision for the town - including a proposal to demolish part of the Springs Shopping Centre and turn shop fronts around to face Spring Gardens.

Describing the two thirds backing as a ‘clear message’ council leader Anthony Mckeown said residents ‘do not want to see grand plans that aren’t based on commercial reality or those which would take decades to realise’.

The council’s proposals are part of a business case for the Future High Street Fund (FHSF) and as such co-investment from the private and public sectors will also be required.

They caution that the fund comes with a number of restrictions ‘so even if some of the feedback is sensible it may fall outside of what this particular grant is eligible to be spent on’.

Councillor McKeown added: “All feedback is welcome and we have where possible made revisions to the proposals.

“Although the alternatives being proposed that have been found to be either ineligible for the funding or incapable of attracting the necessary co-investment from the private sector cannot be taken forward at this time.”

Buxton’s bid for the FHSF will be submitted at the end of April and a decision is expected in the autumn.

To view the council’s proposals in detail click HERE.