A village supermarket that has been empty for seven years will finally be turned into shops, offices and flats.
The former Budgens store in Aries House on Straight Bit, Flackwell Heath, will be given a huge revamp – turned into a mix of shops and offices on the ground floor and offices and three flats on the first floor.
The 1960s-style building has been empty since Budgens shut seven years ago after 30 years of trading – and residents have been left wondering what would happen to the building.
READ MORE: Flackwell Heath Budgens closes its doors after 40 years
Now, fresh plans for its revamp were given the go-ahead at Wycombe District Council’s final planning meeting on Wednesday night.
There will be 32 car parking spaces – some of which will be down the side of the building on Old Kiln Lane, seven motorbike spaces and seven cycle spaces. The number of spaces is three less than required by planning rules.
Councillors were largely in favour of the building getting a much-needed revamp – with one councillor describing the current building as looking like something you would see “on the white cliffs of Dover aiming a cannon at France” – they raised fears about the parking.
The huge old Budgens car park will not be able to be used for this new development because it is privately owned by someone else, meaning a garage block will have to be demolished to provide as much parking as possible for the new development.
Cllr David Johncock, who represents and lives in Flackwell Heath, said he “fully supports” bringing the old Budgens back into use as something else, adding that it is currently a “blot on the village landscape”.
He said: “But a concern of many of us is the lack of parking. Parking has been a nightmare in the village since Budgens closed but I can see obvious potential for accidents with parking spaces alongside the building.
“It is a common sight to see near-misses at this junction – this application will surely make that worse.”
READ MORE: Budgens owner: 'I'm finished' if Sainsbury's comes to Flackwell Heath'
Cllr John Savage, who also represents Flackwell Heath, agreed he had no objection to the revamp of the building, but said the lack of parking will be “disastrous” and urged the planning committee to reject the plans.
He said: “It is unacceptable. How on earth will anyone control who parks in this car park and for how long? The junction with Straight Bit is always busy and having cars coming to and from the grass verge will be a disaster.”
Cllr Chris Whitehead added: “We have to weigh up the benefits of having an attractive building instead of something you might see on the white cliffs of Dover pointing a cannon at France. Should we turn down this plan just for the sake of three parking spaces? I would need to be persuaded.”
The plans were approved, with 11 councillors agreeing to give permission and two voting against.
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