Wycombe office building to be demolished

Plans to demolish an empty office building in Wycombe have been given the go-ahead.

The application said the office on Hughenden Avenue had been vacant for several years, was surplus to requirements and had become a “burden” for the owners to maintain.

It said the land would be better used as additional parking, with the site to be tarmacked and marked out with parking bays once the building is removed.

In a report, council officers noted that the site sits close to Buckinghamshire New University student accommodation, Hughenden Retirement Village and nearby residential properties on Hughenden Avenue.

However, officers concluded that the information provided within the applicant’s method statement was sufficient to demonstrate that the demolition could be carried out safely, while protecting members of the public and the surrounding environment.

It said in the report: “In addition, the existing main building opening will be re-clad. It is considered that the proposed restoration methods are satisfactory and will not have a detrimental impact upon the character of the area or the visual amenity of the street scene.”

The method statement set out how the demolition would be undertaken, explaining that once brickwork panels had been removed and the area made safe, mechanical demolition would begin. Some works are expected to take place at weekends to minimise disruption.

It said: “Following the demolition direction plan above works will begin on bay one, the demolition rig fitted with various hydraulic demolition attachments will cut the steel framework down and pulverise out concrete first floor slabs.

“Materials will be separated at point of demolition and loaded away in skips. Works will progress towards the green secure container leaving the rear wall (4) structure in place to maintain stability throughout further demolition.

“The demolition excavator will then reposition and work through bay 2 leaving the external wall (3) in situ. Once the central demolition is complete the external walls (3,4) will be eased into the footprint of the structure. All materials will be processed and removed from the site.”

As the application was submitted under prior notification rules, the council confirmed that prior approval was not required and the demolition can proceed without full planning permission.

It added in the application: “The building is situated to the south of Hughenden Avenue on a dead-end spur road serving two large commercial units owned by the applicant along with a private car park.

“The office building adjoins the northmost of the two commercial buildings originally forming a single unit.

“The property is a two-storey brick-built building believed to have been constructed in the 1980’s. To the south it bounds the courtyard of Unit 1, to the east the spur road of Hughenden Avenue and the north an associated car park for the property from where the building is accessed.”