Plans for a car showroom or a drive-thru restaurant as part of a huge overhaul of a run-down area of High Wycombe have fallen through – amid concerns over the cost of one of the potential projects.

The idea for a new drive-thru in Westbourne Street was met with excitement from residents when the plans were revealed in the Bucks Free Press back in January.

At the time, Wycombe District Council (WDC) was in the “early stages” of discussions with a potential tenant – but new documents, which will be presented to the cabinet on December 17, appear to confirm that the plans have failed.

The report also says mooted plans for a car showroom, as part of the council’s Baker Street masterplan to revamp the area, have also “failed to materialise”.

WDC is now asking the cabinet to approve alternative plans to revamp the existing building on Westbourne Street – Capital House – as well as provide a new car park.

Although phases one and three of the Baker Street revamp – building an Aldi supermarket and DesBox, a new artists’ community – are either finished or near completion, plans for phase two, which was initially a new car showroom, stalled.

The report says the plans ran into trouble when the potential occupier wanted to hold out for a freehold on the property, instead of an occupational lease.

Investigations into a new drive-thru restaurant for the site instead also found that planning permission for the building could be “difficult to obtain”.

The problems – coupled with “poor” ground conditions on the site – has meant WDC has gone back to the drawing board.

They now hope plans to revamp the existing building and build a new 51-space car park could be more successful.

The building revamp will be funded with the £650,000 which was allocated to the previous project and £250,000 is ring-fenced to pay for converting the external areas into a car park.

WDC hopes these new plans will be successful – and will bring in around £140,000 of income every year.

However, the report admits there is a risk because to build the car park, they will need to apply for a change of use for the area.

Next Monday, councillors on the WDC cabinet will be asked to approve the latest plans, which will then go forward.

What do you think about the plans? Get in touch – email stephanie.wareham@london.newsquest.co.uk.