A neglected High Wycombe nightclub that has stood empty for more than seven years will be turned into shops and offices, as ambitious plans to overhaul the building are given the go-ahead.
The Bucks Free Press revealed earlier this year how developers’ hoped to revamp 9 to 16 Oxford Street – which was formerly known as Octagon Parade and housed Pure nightclub – by turning it into commercial space.
Wycombe District Council has this week given Golden Apple, the company behind the new plans for the building, the green light to extend the ground floor of the building and add two extra levels on top to provide space for offices and shops.
The completely revamped building would be curved to add “visual interest” to the building, which has stood empty for seven years and could create 270 jobs.
Pure shut its doors in 2011 after the company that owned it went into administration and the building has been empty ever since.
Cllr Alan Hill, who represents the area’s residents at Wycombe District Council, was largely in favour of the plans going ahead, saying that the section of town has been “neglected for some time”.
However, he did raise concerns about the service road close to the bus stops on Oxford Street and the roundabout, and how the development would impact traffic.
Emma Crotty, principal development management officer at Wycombe District Council, said the site is located close to “multiple car parks within walking distance, bus stops opposite the site and both the bus and train stations within five to ten minutes’ walk”.
The developers have also agreed to enter into a legal agreement requiring them to create a travel plan and monitoring for five years in a bid to reduce the reliance of their staff members on car use for commuting.
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