Agenda item

The Committee will consider a report on the Buckinghamshire Regeneration Framework and the individual strategies for Aylesbury, Chesham and High Wycombe.

Contributors:

Cllr Peter Strachan, Cabinet Member for Planning and Regeneration

Lisa Michelson, Service Director, Housing & Regulatory Services

Shabnam Ali, Head of Local Economic Growth

The Cabinet Member for Planning and Regeneration introduced the strategies, noting that they had been adopted by Cabinet in October 2023. They were published on the Buckinghamshire Council website. They were ambitious in their aims to improve Aylesbury, Chesham and High Wycombe and were also a pragmatic way to take these towns centres forward. Other areas in the county were also able to plan improvements

During the discussion, Members raised the following points and questions:

·        Concern was expressed as to whether small businesses, Members and Town Councils had been properly consulted. Members noted Town Councils should be involved in the process as early as possible. The Cabinet Member for Planning and Regeneration made assurances that stakeholders had been appropriately consulted in the plans.

·        The regeneration plans for Aylesbury had changed slightly but the funds stipulated by Aylesbury Vale District Council (AVDC) for this project remained ringfenced. Local businesses had been able to give their views in various forums over the past year.

·        The importance of creating attractive cultural centres to bring the community together was highlighted. The Service Director for Planning & Environment explained that more detail on aesthetics would follow. The strategy outlined wider goals and ambitions. These plans had several layers with a place-based approach taken for town centre regeneration.

·        The ongoing consultation would lead to enabling works which would further the goals of the strategy. It was highlighted that meeting to discuss the regeneration plans in Chesham was due to take place where representatives from Chesham Town Council would be attending.

·        There was a discussion on pedestrianisation, green spaces and making town centres attractive. Members felt that a focus on seating, lighting, nature and the use of public art would encourage more people to visit the town centres. It was noted that building design was also important.

·        The Council was looking to ensure Cambridge Street in Aylesbury remained closed to traffic. It was noted that within Aylesbury, some former council buildings could be converted for residential use in future.

·        Progress on the regeneration project may be measured by analysing various metrics (e.g. town centre footfall, occupancy and use of facilities). The aim was to provide vibrant town centres. This would partly be achieved offering the right kind of premises for businesses.

·        It was noted that the regeneration project was closely aligned with Opportunity Bucks, a programme focusing on 10 wards within Buckinghamshire where people were experiencing the significant hardship. These wards were in Aylesbury, Chesham and High Wycombe. The Government had recently proposed changes to permitted use of buildings which may change the nature of town centres and streets.

·        The national trend for converting office space into residential units was noted. It was observed that the balance between residential, office and retail space needed to work for a vibrant town centre.

·        Buckinghamshire Council’s Regeneration plans make use of private sector investment. An example of where this worked well was the Exchange area in Aylesbury, it had combined restaurants with flats (above). The existence of the strategy helps to engage investors and reassure them that there is a vision for these areas. Developers had experience of similar projects, and other market towns had attracted investment.

·        A Member asked for more details around the spending for these strategies, as well as availability of Opportunity Bucks funds for town centre redevelopment. The Cabinet Member for Planning and Regeneration offered to write to the Member with more detail.

                                                              Action: Cabinet Member for Planning and Regeneration

·        The Cabinet Member would report back to update the committee on the Regeneration Framework & Strategies at future committee meetings.

The Chairman thanked the contributors for their input.