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Aylesbury is a town with a fantastic future. The redevelopment of the town centre has begun and in the coming years many exciting new schemes to improve services and facilities will be delivered. AylesburyVibe is dedicated to keeping you up to date with all the latest news and how the development works will affect travel.

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News

Waitrose is coming to Aylesbury

Waitrose will be the the food store for the proposed Waterside Shopping scheme in Aylesbury. Waitrose will trade from a 30,900 sq ft store, which has been taken on a 20-year lease. This announcement follows the signing of the development agreement between Warner Estate and Aylesbury Vale District Council for the development of the retail element of the wider council-led regeneration proposals for Aylesbury

Providing a link from Warner Estate’s existing Hale Leys Shopping Centre, Waterside Shopping will introduce an 80,000sq ft Debenhams department store and a further 30 shops as well as new restaurants and cafes, 800 car parking spaces and an attractive new public realm in front of the Aylesbury Waterside Theatre, which is currently under construction by Aylesbury Vale District Council.

Located adjacent the town’s new theatre, the new Waitrose food store will help to extend the retail heart of the town to the southern side of Exchange Street, which will be rejuvenated as a result of these proposed developments. The store will enhance the environment, particularly around the canal basin and Bear Brook, and will provide an attractive backdrop.

Councillor John Cartwright, Leader of Aylesbury Vale District Council, said: “We are extremely pleased that Waitrose are coming to Aylesbury. We said at the outset that we wanted the scheme to be of the highest quality, with the theatre leading the way. Waitrose fits perfectly with our plans and we really are now beginning to see our dreams for the redevelopment of Aylesbury come true.”

Waitrose Director of Development, Nigel Keen, said: "We are delighted to have signed an agreement which, subject to planning permission being granted, commits us to the scheme put forward by Warner Estate. It offers Waitrose a fantastic opportunity to contribute towards the regeneration of an important part of Aylesbury and we firmly believe that a Waitrose food shop will help add to the vibrancy of the area as well as providing more choice for the local community. Waitrose places great value on becoming part of a town's fabric and will continue to work hard with the developer to ensure the application submitted is one that best meets the needs of Aylesbury."

Theatre managers appointed

The Ambassador Theatre Group (ATG) is set to manage the new Aylesbury Waterside Theatre, which opens in 2010. Members of Aylesbury Vale District Council’s cabinet confirmed ATG as its preferred management contractor at a meeting on 10 February,  paving the way for final contract negotiations to be concluded.

ATG is the second largest theatre operator in the UK and manages a total of 23 venues, including the nearby Milton Keynes Theatre. It is also one of the country’s foremost theatre producers and has been behind some of the most successful and innovative productions in Britain and abroad.

Two years ago, AVDC began a procurement process to bring in a specialist company to manage the Aylesbury Waterside Theatre. ATG and HQ Theatres were shortlisted and supported development of the contract specification to ensure its deliverability. Both companies submitted tender bids and ATG’s was judged to be the most economically advantageous.

Councillor John Cartwright, Leader of the Council, said: “We are excited and pleased to have selected one of our preferred operators to manage the new theatre. Members were very impressed with the ATG proposals and the depth of their experience and professionalism. We look forward to working in partnership with them to fully realise the potential of what will be a fantastic venue for the people of Aylesbury Vale.”

Around 300,000 people from across Aylesbury Vale and beyond are expected to visit the new theatre each year to enjoy a dynamic and diverse programme of live performances. The programme will be an exciting mix of West End shows, comedy, dance, concerts, gigs, pantomime, as well as international opera and ballet.

The concept for the Aylesbury Waterside Theatre was developed by AVDC and internationally-renowned theatre designers, RHWL Arts Team. The venue will have a 1,200-seat auditorium that converts into a 1,800-capacity hall for standing events, and a 220-seat suite for smaller events including dance, drama, meetings and conferences.

All aboard! Parkway station opens

The first train left Aylesbury Vale Parkway at 7.27am on Sunday 14 December 2008, reaching London Marylebone an hour later. Trains will run twice an hour at peak times on weekdays and once an hour off peak and at weekends. An amended Route 16 bus service will start the following day and will bring passengers from the surrounding areas to tie into the peak time train services.

The provision of the new train service is the first step in providing travel choices and reducing congestion on the A41 Bicester Road corridor. Although the buildings won't be completed fully until spring 2009, people can now use the train services. Anyone living to the north west of Aylesbury now has a choice; either drive to Aylesbury Vale Parkway and get on a train or, for those in Steeple Claydon, Westcott, Quainton or Waddesdon, hop on the Route 16 bus at peak times.  In either case, they don't need to drive all the way into the centre of Aylesbury and will enjoy some aspect of their journey being free of charge. 

To reflect the fact that the station is not completely finished and to encourage people to use it, the car park will be free of charge from December to May 2009.  Also, anyone holding a season ticket for Chiltern Railways from Aylesbury Vale Parkway which is valid for one month or longer will enjoy free travel on the Route 16 bus service to the new station. For more information about Parkway, click here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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