BCA Position on the Capital & Centric Buxton Town Centre Redevelopment

As part of our role as a civic association, BCA takes an active interest in the future of Buxton and its historic environment. We review significant planning applications and strategic proposals affecting the town, seeking to ensure that development respects and enhances Buxton’s distinctive character and contributes positively to its long-term future.

The proposed Capital & Centric redevelopment of Buxton town centre represents a major intervention in the town and its historic environment. BCA has therefore reviewed the planning applications in detail, supported by a panel of local professionals advising the Association’s Board of Trustees.

BCA also consulted its members on the proposals at a meeting on 22 July 2026. Members unanimously supported the Association’s objection to the applications.

While BCA recognises the importance of investment and regeneration in Buxton town centre, we believe that development on this scale must be appropriate to the town’s distinctive heritage, landscape and existing communities. Our concerns relate particularly to the scale, height and design of the proposed buildings, the choice of materials, the number and type of residential units, the loss of town-centre parking and the scheme’s approach to sustainability, ecology and biodiversity.

Buxton is an historic town of national significance. In our view, the proposed development requires particularly careful consideration of its impact on the town’s character and heritage. The town’s identity is strongly influenced by its Regency architecture, distinctive buildings and generous historic spaces. We believe the scale, design and material palette of the proposed scheme are insufficiently sympathetic to this context.

BCA is also disappointed by changes to the scheme since the public consultation in 2025. We recognise that the earlier proposals generated significant support in principle but consider that the submitted scheme has moved away from some of the qualities that made that earlier proposal more appropriate to Buxton.

To view the full response to High Peak Borough Council’s planning application, please visit Planning Applications – High Peak Borough Council and search for both planning application HPK/2026/0228 and HPK/2026/0229

Given the scale and significance of the proposals, BCA has also written to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government requesting that the Secretary of State consider using their powers under Section 77 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 to call in the applications for his own determination.

This request is also informed by the ownership and planning context of the site. A substantial proportion of the application site is owned by High Peak Borough Council, which is also the Local Planning Authority responsible for determining the applications. BCA considers that an independent determination would provide confidence that the proposals are considered without any perception of bias or predetermination.

BCA will continue to engage constructively with the planning process and will advocate for a scheme that delivers genuine regeneration while respecting the heritage, character and environmental qualities that make Buxton distinctive.

Our position is not one of opposition to investment in Buxton. We support high-quality, sustainable regeneration that strengthens the town for future generations. Our concern is that development of this scale must meet that ambition and should enhance, rather than diminish, the qualities that make Buxton special.