News

DLG SUBMITS PLANS FOR A NEW HOTEL IN HIGH WYCOMBE

National practice DLG Architects has this week submitted a planning application for a major new hotel as part of the Chilterns Shopping Centre in High Wycombe on behalf of its client Royal London Mutual Insurance Society.

DLG is proposing to rejuvenate the Chilterns Shopping Centre to provide a more engaging experience for visitors to the centre and the Frogmoor area of High Wycombe.

Plans include part demolition and part new build of the existing ‘80’s building that has suffered recently through competition from the recently completed Eden Shopping Centre nearby.They also include the introduction of leisure facilities facing onto the historic Frogmoor area to encourage a more sociable café scene and stronger footfall.

The existing Windsor House office accommodation that sits above the ground floor shopping and first floor storage areas has remained vacant for some time and so partial demolition is proposed to make way for a new modern hotel.The proposed addition of three floors to house 124 bedrooms will expand over the existing service yard and parking area with columns incorporated to maintain parking provisions.The Hotel would be accessed at ground floor level from Frogmoor alongside an adjacent new restaurant facility.“It is accepted that there is limited budget hotel accommodation in High Wycombe and interest has already been expressed by potential operators”.James Innes at Colliers Robert Barry which is marketing the scheme comments

To provide more daylight and sense of space within the shopping mall itself DLG is also proposing an attractive new roof light next to the unit occupied by Wilkinsons and over the main thoroughfare.Improvements will also be made to the external façade of the building to provide a more modern frontage to the shopping area whilst reflecting the character of Frogmoors’ conservation status.

Whilst the Chilterns Shopping Centre already offers stores including Primark, H Samuel and Wilkinsons, it is hoped that the redevelopment will in time attract other major high street stores to help regain footfall and restore vitality to the area.

If planning permission is approved works could start on site by Easter with completion expected by spring 2011.Existing tenants will be able to continue trading through the renovation programme.

DLG has previously completed a number of interesting retail transformations including The Light in Leeds, The Atrium in Camberley, Caley’s in Windsor and Midsummer Place in Milton Keynes.