REVEALED: Flyover could become urban park and other big ideas for Wycombe

The flyover in High Wycombe could become a pedestrianised urban park as part of extensive changes that a community group hopes will transform the town.

The mooted road overhaul - similar to New York's converted train track the High Line and the grand vision of London’s Garden Bridge - is suggested as a part of a town-wide consultation on what people want to see the town look like in the future.

Plans for more town centre green spaces and improving the use of buildings like The Brunel Railway Shed top the list, with ambitions for an urban park on the flyover, or in Frogmoor, also being revealed.

The bold ideas have been designed by the High Wycombe Business Improvement District (HWBIDCo) - a business-led town centre management company - in a bid to get people talking about their own aspirations.

Chief Executive Oliver O’Dell said: “We know that High Wycombe can be better.

“Often what holds it back is not a lack of ideas or a willingness to improve, but the challenge of finding a way in which different stakeholders can work together for the greater good.

“We have based our thoughts on what we believe, what we think could change and what others do well.”

Here are just some of the ideas on the table:

Space for all 

An urban park, green walls, sculptures and “inclusive spaces” have all been mooted to improve the town environment. As well as changes to the flyover, HWBIDCo are also asking if people want to implement more art and culture and want to create a better link between the Eden Shopping Centre and Frogmoor.

Using what we have   

Making the most of innovative spaces like the former library building and The Brunel Goods Shed has been pinpointed.

Opening these historic locations would further enhance business and follows the creation of a business ‘incubator’ unit in the town centre.

As part of these plans, HWBIDCo say they would work with key stakeholders and landlords to see some of the buildings developed.

Eating out    

Dining clubs, street food and pop-up food units are thriving across parts of the UK, and High Wycombe is hoping to get its name on the menu.

HWBIDCo is asking residents if that is what it wants to boost the town’s market and café culture.

Party time 

More music festivals and community events could be heading to High Wycombe, after a series of successful shows. Events like Frogfest and the Christmas lights switch-on have proved popular and are expected to grow bigger in the next few years.

Green and inclusive spaces is one of the main themes of the document, with the HWBIDCo team pointing to the need for a town centre park, with The Rye being more remote.

Their plans suggest the flyover could be an option, saying it offers a sustainable reuse that cannot be fully demolished because it forms part of the Eden Centre roof.

For many years, talks have been ongoing over the future of the flyover and remains a controversial topic for most residents. It is currently used as one of the main town centre roads, although a new route is currently being constructed to take traffic away from the already congested area as part of the High Wycombe Masterplan.

HWBIDCo also highlighted Frogmoor as having the potential to be an urban park, saying more work needs to be done to ensure it becomes dependent upon the future of the Chiltern Shopping Centre.

Other projects, which the company hopes the talks will kick-start, include green walls in places like the back of Marks & Spencer and the side of the flyover.

While there are other aspirations to make the most of commercial spaces like the former library in Queen Victoria Road, The Brunel Railway Shed and the undercroft of the Little Market House, in High Street.

Mr O’Dell said: “Everything that we talk about is being delivered by other towns or cities.

“High Wycombe town centre has to decide what is relevant to them or to shout about other aspirations.”

Do you agree with the plans for the flyover? Get in touch

As part of these plans, HWBIDCo say they would work with key stakeholders and landlords to see some of the buildings developed.