Buckinghamshire Council Local Plan –

Buckinghamshire Council Local Plan –

Cooper's Yard and Whitehall Car Parks

We have received the following important update regarding the future of Aylesbury Town Centre and how proposed planning changes may affect access for local shoppers, businesses, visitors, and our community.

The Bigger Picture: A Plan for Buckinghamshire

Buckinghamshire Council is currently finalising its Draft Local Plan 2045.

A Local Plan is a necessary and important document – it helps protect surrounding greenbelt land, directs growth onto previously developed town-centre sites, and ensures developers contribute toward local roads, schools, and infrastructure. In broad terms, having a clear plan for sustainable growth is vital for the region.

However, town-centre development must be balanced with practical day-to-day access for the people and institutions that keep our town heart vibrant.

The Challenge: Redeveloping Central Car Parks

Under the current draft proposals, two primary town-centre parking areas – Cooper’s Yard (short-stay) in Buckingham Street, and Whitehall (long-stay) just round the corner in Whitehall Street, off Oxford Road – are earmarked for residential redevelopment.  Also under threat of development of residential (flats) and mixed use are the following car parks -   Waterside North  with 92 spaces, 6 disabled and 8 EV charging points and  Exchange Street  with 251 spaces, 38 disabled and 8 EV charging points.  Also Friarscroft and The Multi Cultural Centre have been designated as housing.

While brownfield housing in central locations brings benefits, removing these car parks without a clear plan for replacement capacity creates significant issues across the town centre:

·         Town Centre Footfall & Local Services: Shoppers, market visitors, diners, and people needing everyday town-centre services – e.g. visiting the doctor, bank, solicitors, or getting a haircut – rely on convenient central parking.  Losing key spaces risks driving visitors away to out-of-town retail parks.

·         Accessibility for All: Convenient parking is essential for families with young children, elderly residents, and anyone with limited mobility visiting the town centre.

·         St Mary’s, Aylesbury Methodist, and Grenville Street Churches are open 7 days a week and, between them, host the vast majority of Aylesbury’s civic, cultural, and community events and groups as well as church services.

·         Essential Visitor Access: Because these churches have little or no on-site parking, their entire congregations, elderly visitors, performers, guests, and community groups depend directly on nearby public car parks like Cooper's Yard and Whitehall.

·Key Meetings which members of the public could attend took place on

Sunday, 16 August at 12.30pm at St Mary’s and on Monday, 17 August at 7.00pm at the Aylesbury Town Council, but it’s not too late to voice your opinion. 

How You Can Submit Your Representation:  

Every individual voice matters crucially in this process!

If you would like to share your views before the public consultation closes on Sunday, 6th September 2026, here is how you can submit your own representation:

1.      Submit Feedback Online:  Visit the Buckinghamshire Council Local Plan Portal to submit comments via their OPUS consultation system.

2.      Emphasize Town Centre Access:  Highlight the importance of preserving accessible town-centre parking to support local shops, services, cultural events, civic venues, and community life.

3.      Keep Our Town in Your Thoughts:  Please join in supporting local leaders and planning teams as they work to shape a positive, accessible future for Aylesbury.