Planning application submitted for Buxton regeneration
Plans to revitalise Buxton town centre, outlined in a planning application submitted by High Peak Borough Council’s development partner Capital&Centric, will be supported by new car parking spaces and new affordable homes to be built and managed by the Council.
The plans include a residential-led neighbourhood with 332 design-led homes for rent, plenty of spots for independent bars, shops, and cafés, and a more accessible route from the railway station will make getting into town much easier. It will make 5 per cent of the homes available at reduced rent for local people.
Design to link to Buxton’s architecture + new public toilets
This follows extensive conversations with locals over the last 12 months, with feedback from the two-stage consultation helping to shape the plans.
Capital&Centric said: “The result is a design full of nods to Buxton’s past including colonnades, bay windows, and the use of traditional materials like limestone and gritstone (sandstone), which give Buxton its distinctive colour and architectural character.”
“The River Wye will also be opened up, creating green public spaces, great for riverside dining and events, while plant-packed public squares will offer the perfect place to relax.”
“The suggestions from locals weren’t only about aesthetics, with the final plans also adding some practical touches with two new public toilet blocks and a feature lift serving the station entrance.”
John Moffat, Joint Managing Director at Capital&Centric, said:
“We’ve made the plans even greener, expanded the housing offer, and put options for indie businesses right at the heart of the community. There’s a real opportunity here to create something that celebrates Buxton’s heritage and character while also giving the town centre the revitalisation it deserves. We can’t wait to get spades in the ground and make this vision a reality.”
Former railway deport site to offer additional 200 car parking spaces
The Council is purchasing land from DB Cargo formerly used as a railway depot beside Buxton station to provide up to 200 new town centre parking spaces. They will sit close to the Springs shopping centre. The new car park is due to open in spring 2027, subject to a planning application, which will be before any construction work takes place in the town centre.
In December 2022 the Council bought The Springs shopping centre after a successful bid of £6.6 million from the Government’s Future High Street Fund, to help address a 10 per cent drop in the town’s population, increasing shop vacancy rates and a desire to see improvement in the town centre. It appointed Capital&Centric in 2024 to develop plans for the site.
Additional affordable family homes in Fairfield
Conscious of the need to create more affordable housing, the Council has decided to add to this by building 100 new family council homes on Granby Road in the Fairfield area of the town.
Making the Council’s announcement, Councillor Damien Greenhalgh, Deputy Leader and Executive Councillor for Regeneration, Tourism and Leisure said:
“We have been working on the re-development of the town centre for the past seven years. I am excited and pleased to say we have now reached a major milestone – with an application submitted alongside a commitment by this Council to address concerns we have been hearing about car parking and the lack of affordable housing.
“These developments are all subject to a planning decision by the Council’s independent Development Control Committee, but they do show our intent – along with Capital&Centric – to revitalise the town with a new quality housing, leisure and retail offer that complements what already makes Buxton so special.
“Providing much needed affordable housing has long been a challenge in Buxton because of the development costs and market conditions, so it is important we create new opportunities where we can, and building our own houses is a positive step to address local housing needs.
“We have listened too about parking concerns, especially as some spaces will go at The Springs car park for development. We have carried out a whole town car parking survey, and a transport assessment is to follow.
“Overall, we are confident that Capital &Centric’s £100 million+ development in Buxton is the best way to secure the town’s future prosperity, subject to planning decisions. If the planning green light is given, we will also ensure that any disruption to the town, traders and parking during future building work is kept to the absolute minimum.”
Capital&Centric’s town centre scheme planning application is currently being verified. Once validation has been made the application will go `live` and can be read and commented on at highpeak.gov.uk/
A link to the application will be shared on the Council’s social media sites as soon as possible.
You can also find out more about on Capital&Centric’s website here.
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