The human version (we wrote this, not the council)
This allocation sets out plans for an assumed 375 homes and up to 7,000 square metres of employment space at Sword House and 11 Duke Street in High Wycombe town centre. The 0.86 hectare site includes the Totteridge Road car park and sits a few minutes from the railway station. Sword House would be kept for employment use, mature boundary trees retained, and any lost public parking spaces replaced unless shown to be no longer needed. Better walking and cycling routes to the station are also required.
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The text below is extracted automatically from the official PDF and may
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HIW03 - Sword House and 11 Duke Street, Totteridge Road, High Wycombe
The site as shown on the Policies Map is allocated for an assumed 375 dwellings and up to 7,000sqm of employment at Sword House. Development of the site will be supported where:
a) It comes forward comprehensively taking account of the Regeneration Strategy for High Wycombe and policy SP5 of the Local Plan.
b) The need for the existing employment provision located within Sword House in line with the Council’s Economic Strategy is considered. Where a need for employment is no longer required, this should be evidenced before alternative uses can be provided on site.
c) The redevelopment of the surrounding curtilage of Sword House for alternative uses is explored.
d) Improvements of pedestrian access to the train station establish new public realm next to the existing station entrance which ensures that surrounding elevations from development provide active frontages.
e) The development conserves and enhances the setting of the Amersham Hill Conservation Area.
f) It retains mature trees along the site boundaries.
g) Provision of a range of formal and informal green space is provided.
h) It maintains on site or provides in an alternative town centre location an equal number of car parking space which currently resides on site, unless it can be demonstrated that the number of spaces currently provided is no longer required.
i) Improved cycle and pedestrian approach to the railway station to the west in incorporated into the design.
j) It extends and improves the existing public right of way on the southeastern boundary to link with Totteridge Road.
k) It maintains and improves the existing public right of way along the eastern boundary.
6.333 The site is 0.86 hectares and is in High Wycombe town centre. The site includes Totteridge Road car park to the west, Sword House and 11 Duke Street to the east. The site can be accessed from Totteridge Road to the west, Townfield Road to the north and Gordon Road to the east. Sword House and Duke Street form part of the Buckinghamshire Regeneration Framework for High Wycombe, which is within the Eastern Quarter key opportunity area. The site is considered a gateway site to the town for those arriving at the High Wycombe railway station. The southern boundary runs parallel with the railway line and benefits from being a few minutes’ walk from High Wycombe railway station.
6.334 As Totteridge Road Car park is a town centre car park situated next to the High Wycombe train station, it is vital that any parking spaces lost are re-provided to maintain sufficient, easily accessible, public car parking.
6.335 Development proposals should deliver a comprehensive redevelopment of the Totteridge Road car park and 11 Duke Street to provide new residential dwellings, while Sword House will be retained and continued in use for employment purposes. Proposals should demonstrate how delivery will be achieved including phasing and site assembly where relevant.