23 July 2026
I strongly object to planning application HPK/2026/0228. Buxton is a tourist town in a tourist area, and people come here because it is a lovely place for a day out. This proposal goes completely against the character of the town. The scale, massing and appearance of the buildings are wholly inappropriate for Buxton's historic core, and the design looks ugly, dated and out of keeping with the town. It is hard to believe proper architectural thought has gone into it. I am also very concerned about the lack of car parking. Buxton serves a large rural catchment and attracts many visitors, as well as residents, older people and those with mobility issues who rely on convenient town-centre parking. The loss of centrally located parking would make access much worse and could seriously harm the town centre. The proposal also risks damaging Buxton's town centre economy. The site is within the Primary Shopping Area, yet the scheme appears to reduce retail floorspace and weaken the role of the town centre. This could harm existing businesses, reduce footfall and undermine the future commercial role of Spring Gardens. Finally, I am concerned about the disruption this development would cause during construction. The works are likely to create major and prolonged disturbance, affecting access, traffic, pedestrians and nearby businesses. For all these reasons, I ask that this application be refused. ________________________________