Council bosses to rule over Wycombe Masterplan (From Bucks Free Press)

Council bosses to rule over Wycombe Masterplan

11:50am Monday 30th April 2012 in Politics By Simon Farr

A PLAN to radically transform the centre of High Wycombe will be put before council bosses this week.

Wycombe District Council’s Cabinet will be urged to approve the long heralded Town Centre Masterplan.

The planning blueprint aims to strengthen the economy and redevelop High Wycombe to create a more ‘pedestrian friendly’ town centre.

A new transport route would also be created, which could result in the “Berlin Wall of Wycombe” – the Abbey Way flyover – being demolished (see links).

Cllr Hugh McCarthy, Cabinet member for Planning and Sustainability said: “I'm very excited by these plans which have emerged from extensive public and stakeholder consultation.

"They will ensure that we can continue to improve our town centre and make it an even better place for people to live, work, shop and visit.”

His Buckinghamshire County Council colleague, Cllr Peter Hardy, said he was confident the huge project - which is estimated to cost £36m over three stages – would be delivered with minimum disruption to residents.

The Town Centre Masterplan proposals are included in WDC’s Delivery and Site Allocations (DSA) Plan, with shorter term improvements identified in a new Public Realm Action Plan.

The DSA Plan also includes proposals for Marlow and Princes Risborough, together with a series of planning policies to help deliver sustainable development across the Wycombe District.

The proposals will be put before members of WDC’s Cabinet on Wednesday and then Full Council on May 14.

Subject to approval, the plan will be published for formal representations to be made between June 1 and July 20.

The plan will then be submitted for a formal public examination in front of an independent planning inspector in 2013.

What do you think of the plans?