PLANS to build a “gateway” coach station, park and ride, 150-bed hotel and “high quality” office facilities at Wycombe Sports Centre have been given the green light by councillors.

Wycombe District Council’s planning committee agreed on Wednesday to approve the multi-million pound Handy Cross development, subject to planning conditions.

The six-bay coachway would provide frequent services into London, Oxford, Reading and Slough. The interchange would also run services to Victoria, Heathrow and Stanstead Airport.

The Cressex island park and ride would be relocated to the site, providing regular trips into High Wycombe bus station at Eden and the train station, with 556 car parking spaces.

The outline proposal also includes plans to build an eight storey, 150-bed hotel and up to five “high-quality” business developments which could create 1,655 jobs.

A concourse building is intended to be a “landmark” structure, forming a “main entrance to High Wycombe”.

The council will need to submit detailed applications for the hotel and business park.

These would have an additional 964 car parking spaces, with the number of parking spots at the sports centre being cut from 377 to 271 spaces.

WDC council leader Lesley Clarke, pictured, said the scheme would be “hugely positive” for the town and the council would be “silly” to miss out.

She said: “I am very pleased with the outcome and very pleased that people saw the benefits of the coachway because it is needed.

“Obviously there are still a few issues to be ironed out, such as the residents parking up at Fair Ridge, but the county council are working very closely with them.

“It means that we’ll get more people investing in the town, the business park will create those middle management jobs the town is crying out for, meaning younger people can live and work in the town.

"And of course improve transport links, so it will be of huge benefit to High Wycombe”.

The council received eight objections to the scheme, citing concerns about the impact on residential properties, traffic problems, and that all sport facilities should be based on one site.

Wednesday’s planning meeting had three public speakers against the plans – Mike Chadwick from the Chiltern Society and Fair Ridge resident Mike Evans discussed the impact the development would have on traffic and environment.

Brian Mapletoft, chairman of the Hazlemere Residents Association 2009, spoke out against the council’s controversial plan to move the sports centre’s athletics track to Sir William Ramsay School.

For the Handy Cross scheme to go ahead, WDC needs to find a suitable site to play host to the running track which needs to be moved to make way for the coachway, as well as the synthetic pitch currently at the site.

And Sport England has threatened to “call in” the coach way project to the Secretary of State if the Ramsay application is turned down or another site is not found.