Meeting community needs key for new Buxton homes

Responses to the survey for the Council’s ambitious Revitalising Buxton project have indicated a need for new homes to remain affordable and accessible to local people, avoiding an influx of holiday home buyers.

In the public consultation run by High Peak Borough Council, people also shared their thoughts on transport links, parking, accessibility and architectural style for the proposed new homes.

 Council Leader, Councillor Anthony McKeown, said: “Thank you to everyone who took part in the consultation this summer. We’re investing in the biggest regeneration project we’ve ever undertaken in the town centre and your views are essential to ensuring we deliver a fit-for-the-future scheme.

 “We’re analysing all the feedback we’ve received and we’ll be sharing this with the development partner we appoint to ensure that what we deliver reflects our shared aspirations for the town centre.”

 Revitalising Buxton is a major project which will bring investment in new homes, leisure and hospitality to support a thriving and vibrant Buxton town centre and improve and strengthen it for future generations.

 There were over 700 responses to the survey which aimed to gather feedback for the project as part of public consultation which ran from July to September.

 Results revealed a desire for enhancements to the public space to not only improve the look of the area but also its use, including improvements to street furniture to make it less cluttered and increased community spaces for performance and work.

 Meeting the community’s needs, supporting the economy and making the area appealing to visitors were all mentioned frequently in feedback for the project which is about to enter the next phase – development and sharing of the proposals and a planning application to be submitted next year.

 In anticipation of the next phase, a new creative display has been unveiled in ‘The  Community Space’ unit on Spring Gardens which celebrates the area’s past and looks forward to the future.

 The Council worked with local artist Mister Hope to create the display based on the contributions made by people during the consultation and engagement process.

Councillor Damien Greenhalgh, Deputy Leader and Executive Councillor for Regeneration, Tourism and Leisure, said: “Mister Hope has done a fantastic job of translating memories, aspirations and thoughts about Buxton’s future into this head-turning, colourful and engaging display which is already capturing the attention of people shopping and visiting the town centre.

“We’re now entering the next phase of our exciting and ambitious project which will be to appoint our development partner. We’ll be sharing more details about that before the end of the year so watch this space!”

 Sign up to receive news updates about the project via the website or email revitalisingbuxton@highpeak.gov.uk