Theatre opening – Aylesbury’s Waterside Theatre opens for business this month. The £35m theatre, with its 1,800 capacity and striking design is certain to provide a major boost for Aylesbury Vale and Aylesbury town centre. AVA has contributed Growth Funds towards improving the immediate environment around the new theatre complex.
Core strategy –Aylesbury Vale District Council has asked the Government for permission to withdraw its Core Strategy, following the Government’s decision to scrap regional strategies and their accompanying housing targets. Councillors say they want to reconsider how many new homes they think the district needs. Original targets set a total of 21,000 new homes between 2006 and 2026, but this figure is now likely to be reduced.
Berryfields – Meanwhile, work is progressing quickly on the Berryfields development, which will result in 3,000 new homes and community facilities on land adjacent to Aylesbury Parkway station. Taylor Wimpey expect their first show home to be ready in the next few weeks. AVA played a key role in enabling the project, which was also selected as a finalist in this year’s Homes and Communities Awards.
Electricity supply – AVA and the electricity company EDF are making “good progress” in talks which will help secure sufficient energy supplies for Aylesbury Vale in the coming years.
Board decisions – The AVA board, at its September meeting, agreed to fund £10,200 from AVA funds to enable the conclusion of the Aylesbury Town Centre plan; and to provide more than £18,000 to commission studies which will assist decision-making on providing sustainable access in Buckingham, including car parking arrangements.
Local Investment Plan- A Buckinghamshire Local Investment Plan (LIP) has been forwarded to the Homes and Communities Agency for consideration before the Comprehensive Spending Review, which is being announced this month. The plan identifies the investment that will be needed to ensure Buckinghamshire remains prosperous, enterprising and environmentally sustainable into the mid 2020s, and has been prepared by private, public and voluntary sector representatives.
Local Enterprise Partnerships – The Government is expected to announce which Local Enterprise Partnership (LEPs) will be formed before the end of the year. The LEPs will take over some of the responsibilities of the former Regional Development Agencies and 57 proposals have been put forward from around the country. They include a LEP for Thames Valley Buckinghamshire; another for Thames Valley Berkshire and another for South East Midlands. AVA will be staying in close touch with developments.
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