Campaigners raise concern over £100m redevelopment

Opponents of a proposed £100m redevelopment of a town centre fear hundreds of new homes and a loss of parking spaces could deter shoppers and visitors.

Capital&Centric plans to build new shops, restaurants and 332 new homes on the site of The Springs Shopping Centre in Buxton.

The developer said the shopping centre needs a new lease of life and the project would help boost the town's economy and make the area look more attractive.

A demonstration was held against the plans at the weekend, organised by resident Ruby Moon, who believes there is a "more sensitive way" to revamp the town centre.

Moon, 74, said she believed the housing element of the project would not benefit people in the town.

"It's going to be up-and-coming younger people (who buy the houses) who will probably be commuting in and out of Buxton to salaried jobs in Manchester.

"They will probably be spending time and money in Manchester, it's not covering the needs of the town and I don't think it's bringing revenue and life into the town."

The development will use some of the existing parking outside the shopping centre and to compensate for this, extra parking spaces will be created near the station.

But Moon said the new parking would be further away from the shops.

"The Springs (shopping centre) is a bit of a carbuncle that does need a facelift," she added.

"It definitely needs regeneration but not in this way. I think there is a more sensitive way to develop the town."

Independent High Peak borough councillor Rachael Quinn attended the demonstration.

She said she was concerned about how the number of homes planned had grown since it was first proposed.

She also raised concerns about the loss of the car park outside the existing shopping centre.

Quinn said elderly shoppers would struggle to get to the new proposed parking near the station and it would put off visitors from coming to Buxton.

"I've got to say that is one of the crucial things that I feel is really a sticking point," she added.

"Buxton is a town where a lot of our visitors come in by car and a lot of the trade for Spring Gardens and the wider town is because people can get here by car."

Co-founder of Capital&Centric, Tim Heatley, said the residential element of the development was important.

"Homes in central places reduce crime, they make it safer, they make a place more vibrant and a more interesting place to be," he added.

"The town is in decline and we need to reverse that decline."

New shops, bars and restaurants will be opened as part of the development and Capital&Centric said work will take place to make the River Wye more accessible to people in Buxton.

Heatley added the development would generate more car parking and the new spaces near the station would be sheltered.

"We're investing over £100m here. We want that to be successful for everybody and so the last thing that we want to do is to create all that new space and not have the ability for people to access and park in it," he said.

"We need shoppers, we need restaurants busy, we need people visiting the town centre and that's exactly what our proposals and plans will do."

Capital&Centric was appointed the developer of the project in 2022 by High Peak Borough Council after it bought The Springs.

Earlier this year, when the plans were unveiled, the council's deputy leader Damien Greenhalgh pointed out that it had considered the opinions of residents.

"This really is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to enhance what already makes Buxton such a great place to live in and to visit," he said.

"The proposals breathe new life in a key part of the town that people will want to make their home."

Capital&Centric has submitted the plans to High Peak Borough Council but a decision on them has yet to be made.

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