Project Phoenix is the name given to the plan for the forthcoming redevelopment of High Wycombe town centre.

Various proposals to regenerate the area have been discussed over many years but all previous plans have been abandoned following objections and obstacles.

The current proposals have the advantage that they are acceptable to a majority of people and businesses in the area and have been granted planning permission, following the decision by Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott not to call in the application for his decision. This means that a public enquiry will not be necessary so speeding up the process of starting work.

The developers are Stannifer, which is part of a consortium, which also owns the Octagon Centre. Wycombe District Council, which is in partnership with Stannifer, owns most of the land.

New architects Benoy have been instructed to produce fresh designs for the centre. The architects are responsible for the design of Birmingham’s new Bullring Centre and also for Bluewater in Kent and are expected to bring flair to the project. Benoy were appointed after Stannifer dispensed with the previous architects following criticisms of their designs from members of The High Wycombe Society and The Commission for Architecture and The Built Environment (CABE).

The overall cost of the project is expected to be £135 million, the money coming from commercial backers who will, of course, expect a return on their investment. The district council owns the freehold and will take rental income from the businesses using the site. During the building work the council will lose the revenue from the car parks but the developer is due to make payments to make up for this loss. A condition of the planning permission was the agreement by Stannifer to pay for road improvements, build affordable housing on the site, to pay for open space improvements and to develop a green travel plan.

Work will start in the spring of 2004 and is expected to take around two and a half to three years to complete.

The area to be developed is in the western sector of High Wycombe, between Oxford Road, Lily’s Walk and Bridge Street. The existing Octagon shopping centre will link up with it. The finished development will take up 635,000 square feet.

Several businesses have shown an interest in setting up in High Wycombe. House of Fraser has already signed up and it is anticipated that other high street stores and chains will be attracted to the area. Lifestyle and fashion stores are expected to be interested. In addition to this a new library will be built, along with a new bus station, multi-screen cinema, a bowling centre, restaurants homes and parking.

The name Project Phoenix will not be retained and for the time being the project will be known as the Town Centre Redevelopment or TCR. The Council will now have to decide on a new name for the centre that will encourage people to visit High Wycombe and will reflect the diversity in the town. The name could be based on the historical features of the town or the geographical area or it could be based on an abstract concept. The name of the adjoining centre, Octagon, will disappear when the new centre opens.

Work will begin this spring when archaeologists will carry out a thorough survey of the area before the builders move in. The Arriva bus company’s maintenance depot will move to Cressex to free up town centre land for the project. The new bus station will open on to Bridge Street.

This development should mark a fresh start for High Wycombe and will turn it into a vibrant and modern town centre fit for the 21st century.

The Editor.
editor@bucks4biz.co.uk