BUSINESS leaders have predicted that Eden is set to usher Wycombe into a new era of prosperity and see it become one of the most successful towns in the region.

And property experts believe the town will be protected from major falls in house prices by the development.

Already 1,700 jobs have been created by Eden, and more businesses are expected to be drawn to town.

Claire Prosser, policy executive of the Thames Valley Chamber of Commerce Group, said: "The housing plans that are in place in High Wycombe are extremely important for the town and along with the influx of additional visitors that the Eden Centre will bring, the town will experience a huge buzz as new people move into the town.

"The new jobs that the centre will generate is also excellent news, as there is sure to be a wealth of employment opportunities throughout all aspects of the centre.

"The money spent by those employees in their lunch hours and spare time is also important because it will reinvest money back into the centre and indeed the town."

Michael Garvey, director of Stupples & Co, thought the opening signified a true landmark for the town's development. He said: "It's probably on a par with the opening of the M40 motorway in what it means for the future economic prosperity of the town.

"High Wycombe had languished slightly in regional terms, with towns like Milton Keynes, Reading, Slough and Maidenhead nearby."

He thought that the new facilities would be a key factor in drawing more prestige and money into the local economy.

He said: "I think over the next two to five years change will be significant. I think the medium term outlook is for values in High Wycombe to rise compared to other centres, particularly as it's got a lot of catching up to do.

"In Maidenhead office space is at around £30 a foot, and comparable sites in High Wycombe are £20 a foot."

Roger Barrett, partner at Stuart Newmans in Crendon Street, High Wycombe, said it was hard to say where the value of residential properties would be in the future, but he thought that Eden had already shielded Wycombe from the worst of the house price wobble.

He said: "Wycombe is being cushioned by Eden. I think it's already having an impact.

"There's a huge amount of interest in the market because of Eden. There is a lot of new development coming in, and new money.

"Where prices could be in two years time in the market is difficult to predict these days. But in general I think Wycombe will have a better time of it than most places.

"The profile of this area has gone up tremendously already. Wycombe has always been regarded as the poor relation to Marlow, Beaconsfield, and Amersham. But the place has been tidied up - it's going to be more attractive to people than before."