Aylesbury town centre regeneration plans take step forward

Development plans for two key sites at the heart of Aylesbury have moved forward with Buckinghamshire Council's Cabinet agreeing to progress plans for both locations.

Councillors have agreed a proposal to regenerate the former Gala Bingo Hall site on the High Street, moving forward with a scheme to create a new public realm space for the town centre and to use the site as a temporary new hub for local businesses while a full business case is worked up for the site's long-term future. It's anticipated this will be a mixed-use development on the footprint of the current site.

It's part of an overall £5 million investment in the town centre and will see a new walkway and public realm space installed on the Gala Bingo site, considerably opening up the link between the High Street and the Exchange, greatly improving walking and connectivity around the town centre – in turn enhancing economic activity.

Cabinet also agreed this morning to move forward long-standing plans to turn the Old County Offices site into 46 brand new homes in the heart of the town, through a developer who will progress the project.

The development does have planning permission but had previously stalled due to market conditions. However, the council has since successfully won "Brownfield Land Release Funding" for this site and has attracted a new developer. Today's decision now means development of this site, that was vacated by the county council in 2014, can now move forward, bringing the building back into use.

The sites are in close proximity to one another, located next to the current Exchange Street Car Park. Developing these strategically significant sites is a key element of the Aylesbury Regeneration Strategy, adopted as part of the overall 'Regenerating Bucks' framework that was agreed by the council last year. This document outlines how regeneration will be spearheaded by creating vibrant and attractive town centres that celebrate Buckinghamshire's heritage and form an attractive offer to residents, visitors and businesses alike.

Work has already begun on a range of general improvements to Aylesbury town centre, including upgrading lighting and power supply in Market Square and making permanent some pedestrianised street arrangements that were introduced during the Covid pandemic.

Rachael Matthews, Buckinghamshire Council's Deputy Cabinet Member for Town Centre regeneration said: "The Gala Bingo site has been sitting empty for years and is in a key location at the heart of the town. It's always been earmarked for regeneration so it's great news that we're in a position to move plans forward for the site. Likewise, it's also now many years since Old County Offices were vacated and I'm really pleased we're now in a position to create attractive new homes in the town centre that will be developed in this heritage site.

There is a great amount of activity in and around Aylesbury that we're driving forward to unlock the potential of the town and make it an even better place to work, live and do business in. We're bringing forward empty sites, improving connectivity, and delivering visible improvements while retaining and enhancing the heritage features of our attractive market town. These are exciting times and we will keep businesses, residents and other stakeholders fully updated as these plans progress."