22 July 2026
Dear Sirs
I would like to object to the planning application ref HPK/2026/0228.
From the onset I would say that as a business owner in the town (The Clarks Shop and Bells of Buxton) there clearly is a need to spend some capital on improving the centre of Buxton.
As we all know retail shopping has changed dramatically over the years and indeed Covid has speeded up this change.
Objection 1 - Car Parking The proposed scheme which essentially sees the loss of some 220 car parking spaces - this is my first objection. Good parking is essential for Towns like Buxton to survive and prosper. If our visitors can't park then they will simply go elsewhere e.g Bakewell and get in the habit of doing this and won't return to Buxton. Incidentally why are you proposing to build houses on Waitrose car park? Where are Waitrose customers supposed to park?
Objection 2 - Chaos during the works and losing Key retailers in the Town as a result of this. There is no doubt that many of the retailers who are in the Current Springs Centre are probably waiting to see what happens with the proposed scheme and wmay leave the town for ever as a result of it. There is a real risk that if the equilibrium is affected here then these High Street brands will go. With out high street anchor units in Buxton visitors will migrate to where they can find some.
A classic example is Ashbourne where the chaos caused by their recent redevelopment led to visitors migrating possibly forever.
I drove through Ashbourne town centre at 4pm yesterday and there was simply no one about - it was like a ghost town.
Objection 3 - the volume of new housing.
I would agree that the town centre could improve with more housing but 350 rented apartments is simply too many and in my opinion not in keeping with our Spa Town.
Objection 4 - the eating quarter in Buxton. You are proposing a new eating quarter in Buxton and the exposure of the river. We have a perfectly good eating quarter in Buxton - we don't need another one which will only water down (no pun intended) the existing offering.
In conclusion I accept that Buxton has to change and think that a watered down version (smaller) development would be more fit for purpose and ask that the plans are resubmitted with these objections in mind.
Buxton is a Spa town like Leamington Spa and Harrogate - why don't you spend some capital on restoring some of the period features etc and make Spring Gardens the place to visit again.