Investment Now - Volume 17 - No 1 - January 2008 - page 12
The South East Plan (2006 – 2026) provides the County Town of Aylesbury the opportunity to broaden its retail and commercial offer to meet the planned growth in population and employment. Aylesbury is embracing those opportunities!
The new sustainable urban extensions planned for Aylesbury are and will be, designed to create a ‘sense of place’ by providing community facilities (retail and food outlets, community buildings, schools, play areas, employment sites and sustainable transport links.
A development of 1070 dwellings for families and single occupancy has commenced at Weedon Hill; beside the A413 to the north of town. Asecond larger residential development, Berryfields, commences in 2008 will provide 3230 dwellings and 100,00 sq. m. of employment space alongside the A41 also on the northern edge of the town. The preferred allocation of the final and substantial phases of development, under the S. E. Plan (9,300 dwellings) will be announced soon.
Open spaces will be created within or between these developments for sport, leisure, outdoor activities and ‘freedom to breathe’. Acting as ‘green corridors’ for movement of wildlife across and between the new residential ‘villages’ and the surrounding countryside these green expanses will offer access to and views of the nearby Chiltern Hills and the rolling hills of the Vale to the north of the town.
The main focus of this redevelopment is ‘The Vision for the revitalised Aylesbury Town Centre’; commissioned by AylesburyValeAdvantage. Aylesbury Vale Advantage, the local delivery vehicle comprising five stakeholder organisations: Aylesbury Vale District Council, Buckinghamshire County Council, English Partnerships, South East England Development Agency and The Vale of Aylesbury Primary Care Trust is charged by the Department of Communities and Local Government to oversee the delivery of this exciting growth.
Existing residents and employees are already experiencing the first step change in the delivery of this Vision; the building of the new (£29m) theatre, commissioned byAylesbury Vale District Council which has a 1220 seat main auditorium with a standing capacity of 1800. This iconic building (completion: late autumn 2009) sets a high standard for the retail and residential development to be located beside the Aylesbury arm of the Grand Union Canal in the centre of the town. This second phase of development has secured investors and commences in 2009 subject to design approval. An attractive piazza will facilitate views from the departmental store and retail offer while serving as a link to the third phase; the canal and café/restaurant ‘quarter’ located around the canal turning basin.
The Vision for Aylesbury Town centre also embraces a major increase in provision of retail floor space and commercial offer. A new (£3.8m) pedestrian bridge beside the existing rail station will facilitate access to the town centre by visitors from afar while urban residents have new sustainable transportation links (£10m) to facilitate speedier access to and around the town. Parkway, a new rail station (£8.17m) with links to London and soon, Oxford and Milton Keynes, will also be built to the north of Aylesbury by 2008.
Increased pedestrian access, enhancements to public space, a vibrant day and night time leisure and cultural offer will join to create a vibrant town centre for visitors, residents and employees. The rejuvenated Vale Park in the centre of town has an important role too, providing opportunities for play, sport, participation in cultural activities or just feeding the ducks! All this is just a short walk away for all town centre residents of apartments to town houses to historic timber framed houses and users of the High Street transportation corridor.
The high quality of life in Aylesbury Vale is also being enhanced and protected. The proximity of the tranquil countryside with its traditional thatched architecture and villages is a major asset for Aylesbury town.
Aylesbury intends to complement Milton Keynes, in the provision of high quality business premises. Government funding of £6m has facilitated the delivery of the proposed 12+ hectare business park, located on the A41 Aston Clinton Road providing direct access to the M25. Gladman Developments are AVA’s key partners in this project which it is hoped will commence in 2008. As well as offices and other commercial premises this development will provide 125 homes, small retail outlets and a hotel / leisure centre to provide a high quality environment for the residential and business community.
Add together the plans for a 42,000 sq. m. ‘employment campus’ (high quality office space within Aylesbury Town Centre) the nearby ‘learning zone’ (Aylesbury College and Aylesbury Vale University Centre), the improved rail / town centre access links, a further 72,900 sq. m. of commercial space in the wider town area and the creativity within the high numbers of successful small to medium enterprises which increasingly choose to live in Aylesbury Vale and you have a recipe for success.
