White Hart Street - Latest update
The improvements to the public realm at White Hart Street will enhance the area for residents and visitors and support food and beverage businesses to provide outdoor 'alfresco' seating. Improvements to the public realm also allows for more cultural and creative activities such as the popular ‘Frog Fest’. This will help to activate, animate, and celebrate the culture of High Wycombe through murals, shows, and events.
Progress Update
On Monday 2 December, we began work on the carriageway between Queens Square and the E7 Service Yard. This involved removing old materials and installing new carriageway paving. For the new pedestrian crossovers, we have used reclaimed old Yorkstone paving materials from the area.
We have successfully completed the first planned road closure to support the kerbing and drainage works in the White Hart Street area, and provided an alternative access to the E7 Service Yard during this time.
Temporary surfacing is being used throughout to ensure the site remains safe for all users. This will be removed before the final carriageway and footway works are completed.
Eden has started removing their scaffolding following the completion of their repairs. The Guild Hall also has scaffolding in place for repairs and maintenance, which we expect to be completed before Christmas.
No works are scheduled between Sunday 15 December 2024 and Sunday 5 January 2025.
The contractor will return in the new year to resume works on Monday 6 January 2025, starting with footway paving work from the Guild Hall end working towards Eden E7 yard. Additionally, we will complete the installation of the remaining granite kerbing where the scaffolding was previously in place outside Eden. All non-essential traffic management, equipment, and materials, including the welfare unit in Frogmoor, have been removed from the site.
Landscaping
As part of the ongoing regeneration on White Hart Street, we plan to undertake landscaping improvements along this street.
These improvements will involve removing three trees currently in the area: two outside Café Roberto and one outside TSB Bank/Guild Hall. We plan to install three street trees outside Café Roberto, along with two areas of small trees/large shrubs in above-ground planters as part of the planned works.
We are also considering planting additional trees as part of the Bucks Tree Planting programme.
Parking
The car parking suspension on Frogmoor will be lifted during the period when no works are scheduled, from Sunday 15 December 2024 to Sunday 5 January 2025.
To make the Christmas shopping experience more convenient and affordable this year, Buckinghamshire Council is offering free car parking. In High Wycombe, free car parking has been provided on Saturday 7 December and Friday 13 December at all council operated car parks except for Handy Cross and Kingsmead.
Check for free parking over the Christmas period | Buckinghamshire Council
The construction works do not alter the Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) currently in place around White Hart Street (Pedestrian Zone, No Loading, No Waiting At Any Time). This means no vehicles are allowed to park in the area including disabled/blue badge users without dispensation from Parking Services.
To help facilitate the construction works and manage access we will continue to implement additional traffic management restrictions and enforcement to deter parking.
Noise Impacts
Unfortunately, all road works will generate a level of noise during construction. The most impactful works for White Hart Street will be the removal of the existing carriageway surfacing due to its construction. We are advised by Environmental Health to avoid such activities during the evening and early hours due to the wider environmental impacts. As a guide noisy works will be planned during the following hours.
- Monday to Friday - from 8am until 6pm
- Saturday - from 8am until 1pm
Whilst on site we will continue to use noise barriers to help suppress noise and visual impacts to nearby properties and businesses.
Road Closures
Thank you for your patience whilst the recent closure was carried out. The next two closures are planned for March 2025, covering the rest of the White Hart Street area: Travelodge to Queens Square (10 March - 17 March) and Church Street to Queens Square (24 March - 31 March)
We will send out arrangements for those closures in due course after the New Year.
A map of planned White Hart Street roadworks in March 2025
Sign up for the regular bulletin
If you wish to be added to the regular progress bulletin, please email us with the subject line ‘WHS bulletin request’.