THE green light has been given to the project to redevelop the western side of the town centre.

District councillors approved the redevelopment of a large swathe of the town centre on Monday, September 13th, in a move that will breathe new life into Wycombe's retail industry.

Plans were contained in a separate report running to 60 pages.

The first set of plans for the development, encompassed by Oxford Road, Abbey Way, Bridge Street, Denmark Street, Desborough Road, Lily's Walk and Temple Street, were approved in February.

But developers Stannifer went back to the drawing board when it was clear more shop spaces were needed.

A second large store is now in the plans.

Councillors insist the scheme is good news for High Wycombe.

Stannifer is obliged to provide affordable housing, CCTV, pedestrian access, and open spaces. Work should start in 2005 and is scheduled for completion in 2007.

With a bowling alley, cinema, bus station, library and several well-known stores, it will become a high-profile town centre.

Council leader Lesley Clarke said: "I am delighted that Stannifer chose to commit to a more comprehensive scheme for the town and that the planning application has now been approved.

"We are confident that High Wycombe will have the right mix of facilities to draw people into the town and serve a wide variety of needs and interests."

Councillors on the development control committee unanimously approved the plans although expressed doubts that the devil may be in the details.

Development control committee chairman Pam Priestley (Con, Icknield) said: "We have laid certain markers down.

"We wanted high quality design. We had a particular interest in roofscapes. We feel that because we have a particular topography as when you drive in you look down on to the roof. We do not want all the paraphernalia you sometimes get on roofs like air conditioning."

They also stressed the importance of renewable energy in the plans as well as high-quality street furniture.

The scheme was originally launched as the Western Sector plan but was later renamed the Phoenix project.

Planning officers and councillors will now thrash out the details in the plans.