17 June 2026
As a former resident and frequent visitor to Buxton I wish to object to this unnecessary application for a truly ugly set of buildings. The existing parking will disappear leaving insufficient parking for anyone wishing to visit the area. There is an indication of an entrance to parking under the new residential buildings which will exit to the road between the station and the new development. This will be a traffic hazard to vehicles using the already busy road. The proposal to use the station depot for parking will mean that the elderly and disabled will be largely unable to access the site. Access to and from the parking will also enter station road, close to the entrance to the other parking which will cause traffic chaos. The proposed buildings bear no relation to the Georgian crescent, Square and the Quadrant, and will detract from the beauty of these important buildings. This is especially true of the viewing tower which appears to be intended to be built of wholly unsympathetic materials and to dominate the skyline. The rest of the development is also intended to be made of materials wholly out of sympathy with the Georgian and Victorian architecture of the town. Previously there was protection for pedestrians in Spring Gardens from the town's notorious micro-climate. Elements remain round the entrance to the former Grove Hotel. However, the application proposes Mediterranean style outdoor seating on the banks of the Wye. This will end up as a windblown and rainsoaked eyesore, and will be unusable between October and May when typical Buxton weather predominates The developers say that they will provide 5% of the flats at lower rental for locals. As this will add up to about 17 flats, it will achieve very little by way of providing homes for those in need of them. In any event, the former Grove hotel is being turned into flats, the student flats by the viaduct appear to be empty, and buildings such as the former NatWest bank need to be re-used. In these circumstances, where is the need for more flats in brand new premises? The existing conservation areas of Buxton should be protected and enhanced by any development. Whilst the existing area subject to this application adds little to the beauty of the town, this development will certainly not enhance or protect the conservation areas, for all of the above reasons.