Beaconsfield could be 'new Covent Garden'

Neil Bingham, who owns Beaconsfield Wine Cellars, London End said if the multi-million pound development is approved the developers could use the busy London market as an example of a successful regeneration project.

Mr Bingham said: "I'd model the development on Covent Garden, which successfully converted from a fruit market to a buzzing shopping area.

"There are restaurants, shops, buskers and bars - it has everything. Covent Garden makes the most of what it has.

"The key is having different things on offer. If we have shops with more variety then we can bring more shoppers into the area and keep them for longer.

Mr Bingham says the successful transition Covent Garden has made from a market to a thriving shopping area should reassure shop owners in the Old Town that embracing change does not always lead to shop closures.

The new scheme, which was previously rejected, would add a Raymond Blanc restaurant to the area and several new shops as well as 40 parking spaces behind the development with cars entering through the archway next to the former bakery.

The property consultancy firm, Bidwells, who drew up the plans for landowners Hall Barn estate, have amended the original proposal and say they have addressed the council's concerns over parking and transport links.

Mr Bingham would also like to see extra bus stops and an underground car park to ease traffic congestion and boost parking.

The mayor of Beaconsfield, Richard Keith, said: "Aiming for Covent Garden is maybe a little ambitious, but certainly if all the technical issues were overcome the build could be great.

"The Old Town needs more retail development to keep it alive. It's a balance between maintaining the historic beauty of the town and saving the economic life blood."

If the amended plans, drawn up by Bidwells, are accepted the landowners hope to obtain planning permission by the spring, with the shopping courtyard opening in summer 2013.

Do you think Beaconsfield could be the new Convent Garden? Let us know what you think by commenting below or email at jo-anne.rowney@trinitymirror.com.