Chilterns Shopping Centre: Businesses given timeline for housing regeneration plan

After the Eden Centre opened in 2008 there were worries that businesses would no longer thrive in the Chilterns as shops such as Marks & Spencer and Wallis moved out to Eden.

However, since then the Chilterns has continued to remain open despite being labelled a "ghost town" by one shopper even with major clothes store Primark and retail chain Wilko anchoring the centre.

In December 2017, the site was purchased by Dandara Living as plans emerged to transform the centre into residential flats.

The plans will see 313 new apartments built in place of the shopping centre and a new pedestrianised road connecting Frogmoor and Priory Road with historic buildings and frontages in the area being preserved.

Image proposed Chiltern Shopping Centre development (Image: Newsquest)

Businesses inside the centre have been told that their tenancies will run until January 2024 but are unlikely to be extended further with development hopeful to get underway that year.

Dandara Living confirmed the shopping centre will remain open until then giving businesses a timescale to find new locations.

Edward Butler-Ellis, from Ward on behalf of Dandara Living said: “It is nobody's interest to have shop units right in the centre of the town empty so we have tried to do everything we can to have as many of the units occupied as possible.

“We want to give the tenants enough time to plan what they do with their business whilst it is there and to plan their next steps.”

Local business, Tabletop Republic have already found a new home as they will move from the Chilterns and onto the High Street.

Tom Mepham, from Tabletop Republic, said: “We always knew this place would be temporary.

“We knew it wasn’t going to be permanent because we knew it was going to be turned into flats at some point.

“There’s always a need for new housing but it will be a shame to see the shopping centre go instead of doing something else with it.

“There are independent shops here so as long as they find places to put everyone I don’t see a harm in flats but obviously there are already loads of other flats being built around here.”

Tabletop Republic (Image: Newsquest)

However, other shops remain worried that a move will ruin relationships already built with their customer base including hair and beauty salon Mannat’s.

Owner, Barljinder Grewal said: “It’s very quiet here because there are not enough shops.

“It will be hard to move to from here to another place because customers know we are here.”

Ally Janes, a High Wycombe resident, admitted that the area is in need of more housing but also shared her concerns over the potential harm to local businesses.

She said: “I think the loss of independent shops is my worry because it is nice to know people can come here.

“People have started coming back here because it was a bit like a ghost town for a while.

“If the shops have somewhere else to go within Wycombe, within the town area then I don’t see why it would be a problem.”

Mannat’s. (Image: Newsquest)

Another major issue in the town is the ongoing antisocial behaviour on Frogmoor which has been described previously as a place families would "avoid" because of drinking and abusive behaviour.

Earlier this year, 12 people on the street were given a section 35 dispersal order meaning they could not re-enter the area for up to 48 hours. 

Edward Butler-Ellis added: “It is important to us that something good happens to Frogmoor.

“If you are putting a few hundred people in an area you do change the character of the area, we would be creating new natural surveillance by having this new community in the town centre.

“We would like to see a more vibrant night-time economy.

“That is something that is reflective by some of the other aspirations by the council to see Frogmoor be a destination that people feel safe and comfortable.

“It is important to us that this a development that can fit into the town centre and that people that come and live in that development are going to be part of the wider community.”

Dandara Living is set to submit its final planning application to Buckinghamshire Council by the end of the year as the future of the Chilterns Shopping Centre will finally be decided.

Peter Strachan, the cabinet member for planning and regeneration for Buckinghamshire Council, said: “As a council we are keen to see development proposals coming forward which support town centre regeneration providing vibrant spaces and exciting opportunities for all.”

If you would like to voice your opinion on the proposals then visit www.chilterns-hw.info where you can fill out a feedback form that will be reviewed by Dandara Living.