Royal grocer Waitrose in battle with Burnham ally over £100m taxpayer-backed spa town redevelopment
Waitrose has objected to a £100m redevelopment of Buxton's Springs shopping centre, joining hundreds of local residents opposing plans by Manchester developer Capital & Centric. The scheme, backed by Labour-run High Peak Borough Council and taxpayer funding, would transform the 1980s shopping centre but cut the town's main public car park from 431 to 142 spaces, prompting Waitrose to warn this could deter shoppers and harm the wider town centre economy. The dispute is notable because Capital & Centric's co-founder Tim Heatley is a close ally of Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham, having attended Downing Street celebrations for Burnham's arrival.
Waitrose's agent submitted a 27-page objection stating the supermarket generates £10m a year for the local economy and acts as an anchor retailer supporting other businesses. The council has put £6.6m from the government's Future High Streets fund and £4.2m of its own money towards the scheme, which includes 332 new flats and 45,700 sq ft of commercial space; a proposed replacement 200-space car park at a former rail depot has not yet gone to planning. Over 600 people and organisations have commented on the application, with most objecting, while heritage campaigners have also criticised the plans for their modern, five-storey "urban-style" design in a town known for its Georgian architecture.
- Waitrose objects to £100m Buxton redevelopment led by Burnham ally
- Plans would cut town's main car park by two-thirds
- Over 600 objections filed; heritage groups also oppose the design
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Buxton’s Springs shopping centre is a 1980s complex in the Derbyshire spa town. Manchester developer Capital & Centric wants to replace it with homes and commercial space, using money from the borough council and a government high streets fund.
Waitrose is a major supermarket in the town centre and says it brings shoppers and income to nearby businesses. The plans would reduce the centre’s main car park from 431 spaces to 142; a separate replacement car park has been proposed, but has not yet been submitted for planning.
The council supports the redevelopment, while many residents and heritage groups have raised concerns about parking and the design in a town known for Georgian buildings. The developer’s co-founder, Tim Heatley, is a close ally of Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham.
Both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Town centres across Britain require substantial regeneration investment to remain economically viable, and this £100m scheme delivers 332 homes and significant commercial space with taxpayer funding already secured. Modern, mixed-use development at higher density is how successful town centres create vibrant communities that attract residents and workers; a replacement car park at the rail depot, whilst pending approval, would still serve practical parking needs. Heritage considerations matter, but towns must evolve architecturally and economically to thrive for future generations.
The case against
The reduction of parking from 431 to 142 spaces fundamentally jeopardises the town centre's commercial viability when Waitrose alone contributes £10m annually to the local economy and supports other retailers who depend on customer access. The proposed replacement car park at a rail depot is not yet approved and would provide only partial compensation, creating genuine hardship for shoppers and businesses. The modern five-storey design also conflicts with Buxton's cherished Georgian character, and with over 600 public objections including from heritage experts, the weight of community and professional opinion runs against the proposal as currently designed.