Archived press release

Date Published: 12/05/06

A range of empty buildings in Aylesbury’s Exchange Street are in the process of being demolished as preparations are made to start work on a new £25 million theatre. The former Bucks Herald and Wilkins Solicitors offices will be knock...

A range of empty buildings in Aylesbury’s Exchange Street are in the process of being demolished as preparations are made to start work on a new £25 million theatre.

The former Bucks Herald and Wilkins Solicitors offices will be knocked down to provide the space required for the construction of a first class theatre on the southern side of Exchange Street.

The venue will include a 1,200 capacity main hall for a wide variety of entertainment, including pop concerts, plays and musicals, and a large meeting room for community and professional events.

Work on site for the theatre is expected to begin in summer 2007 and it is anticipated that the development will be completed by 2009.

AVDC bought the land the theatre will be built on and will transform it into a temporary car park prior to building work on the theatre beginning. The car park, which will provide 110 public parking spaces, is scheduled to be open in the autumn.

The new theatre will be built as part of the Waterside scheme – an ambitious project to redevelop Aylesbury town centre. The scheme will also create a new shopping area on the northern side of Exchange Street, which includes a department and food store, and housing developments alongside the canal and at Circus Field.

Leader of the Council, Councillor John Cartwright, said: “It’s exciting to see actual work starting on the ground after many months of discussions about the Waterside project. The removal of these buildings provides valuable development land and will allow us to make a start on the first significant phases of the scheme.”

Councillor Cartwright added: “There will also be more car parking spaces in the town centre ahead of the main Waterside construction works. This will be a great help to shops and businesses, ensuring people can get in and out of the town as the development takes place.”

The material from the demolition work, mainly brick and concrete, will be recycled where possible.