£100m Town Centre Regeneration Plans Unveiled

A £100 million initiative to revitalize a town centre in Derbyshire has been unveiled. This undertaking, named the Revitalising Buxton scheme, intends to provide new residential properties, leisure facilities, and hospitality establishments through the redevelopment of The Springs shopping centre, Spring Gardens, and Station Approach within Buxton’s town centre. High Peak Borough Council has selected a developer. This developer intends to transform the indoor shopping centre, constructed in the 1980s, into a dynamic combination featuring hundreds of new residences, workspaces, and independent retail outlets, bars, and cafes. The proposed plan additionally encompasses the establishment of a pedestrian-accessible pathway traversing the shopping centre, connecting Spring Gardens to the railway station. It also envisions the creation of green areas suitable for dining, beverages, and events alongside the River Wye. The council stated that a public consultation is scheduled for next spring to “help shape the proposals” prior to the submission of a planning application. The project’s completion is targeted for 2029. The council indicated that these “ambitious plans” are expected to revitalize the district situated between the railway station and the High Street. It was noted that nearly 750 individuals participated in a community engagement initiative earlier this year. Participants expressed a desire for increased amenities for young people, a broader selection of shops, communal areas, housing, and additional green spaces and public restrooms. Anthony McKeown, the council leader, commented: “Over the last few years we have gathered hundreds of ideas from the local community for the future of this part of the town.” He further added: “In order to move these ideas to reality, we are thrilled to announce the next steps for this transformational project for Buxton by announcing a development partner.” McKeown mentioned that the developers, Capital & Centric, put forward a “confident vision, aligned with our aspirations”. John Moffat, the managing director of the company, stated: “We want to create a new gateway from the station, which draws in visitors and really showcases the amazing things the town has to offer.” Damien Greenhalgh, who serves as the council’s deputy leader and executive councillor for regeneration, tourism, and leisure, remarked: “As regeneration projects go, this is huge for Buxton and presents an enormous opportunity to diversify what we have in the town centre.” The council further indicated that this redevelopment became feasible subsequent to its acquisition of the shopping centre in 2022, which was supported by £6.6 million in government funding.