Businesses in Cressex Business Park in High Wycombe have backed major overhaul plans that will see £1 million invested to resolve some big problems – including a lack of parking, “appalling” litter and long traffic queues at rush hour.

A majority of companies in the industrial estate (65 per cent), which is home to businesses like Arriva, Hovis and Biffa, have backed the plans to turn it into a Business Improvement District (BID) - a scheme led by the council. 

BIDs are business-led partnerships where a small levy is paid to deliver additional projects and services to benefit businesses in an area for a limited renewable period, usually five years. 

Setting up a BID empowers businesses to undertake activities, projects and services that will make their business park or town centre more economically vibrant, increase footfall and support the creation of a safer, cleaner and greener town centre.

Some of the most pressing issues the BID hopes to tackle include congestion on key routes through the business park and at the entry and exit points, availability of parking, a lack of signage and improving how the site actually looks.

Before the BID was agreed, Emma Grey, the MD of Mediplus in the industrial estate, said that "congestion and traffic queues have become synonymous with Cressex Business Park as the site has grown" and something needed to be done. 

The Cressex Business Park BID will launch in October and will concentrate on three main themes - getting Cressex moving by reducing congestion and improving transport, creating an attractive and secure environment for businesses and supporting businesses and investing in employees. 

The team has taken inspiration from the successes of the Globe Park BID in Marlow. 

Rachael Matthews, Buckinghamshire Council’s deputy cabinet member for town centre regeneration, said: “This is great news and represents a major change in how Cressex Business Park is managed.

"I have seen the success from other nearby BIDs which the council initiated on Globe Business Park in Marlow and in High Wycombe town centre where businesses have just voted to renew High Wycombe Bid Co for its third term. We hope to see this replicated at Cressex.

"I believe the Cressex BID investment will enable a strong local partnership to deliver a sustained programme of improvements to ensure Cressex Business Park continues to attract new inward investment and create jobs." 

Helen Keats, Finance Director from Cressex based Smartcomm, and Chair of the Cressex BID Steering Group, said they will be working closely with the council and other partners to make the park "cleaner, greener, safer and less congested".