Key milestone reached in the regeneration of High Wycombe town centre

With the supermarket back open to the public, works can now begin on the next stage of the council’s wider regeneration plans for the town centre, which will see the opening of the new council offices and relocation of Buckinghamshire Archives in the now vacant floors above the store.

The new council offices are due to open in spring 2027 and will see staff relocate from the current Queen Victoria Road building. The new offices will be more centrally located in the town centre, allowing easier access for visitors and ensuring a council presence and customer access point in the heart of the town. The county archives will also relocate from their current home in Aylesbury into newer, bigger premises in the same building.

The supermarket was officially opened by Buckinghamshire Council Chairman Sarfaraz Khan Raja. He said: “I would like to thank Tesco for inviting me to officially open their newly refurbished store in the heart of High Wycombe. This opening marks an important stage in our transformation plans for the town centre. I very much look forward to the future opening of our new council offices and the newly refurbished Guildhall becoming the permanent location for all civic and ceremonial events in the future.”

The opening was also attended by Robert Carington, Cabinet Member for Resources, and Julie Ward, Deputy Cabinet Member for Resources.

Robert Carington said: “We wish Tesco the best of luck with their new store. We are pleased that we have been able to work with them to offer a mutually attractive lease which allows them to continue trading from the ground floor of this location in the hub of the town centre and gives us the opportunity to make good use of the remaining space above for accessible new council offices and our extensive county archives.”

Steven Broadbent, Leader of Buckinghamshire Council, commented: "This is an exciting milestone in our regeneration plans for High Wycombe which forms part of our Estates Strategy. We are investing significantly to revitalise the town centre and are now keen to get started on the next stage and keep our ambitions for High Wycombe moving forward. This development forms part of our ongoing commitment to regenerating the town, attracting investment and creating places where people want to live, work and visit.”

Tesco Store Manager Hardeep Bains said: “I am extremely excited that Wycombe Superstore is finally reopening. Our team cannot wait to start serving the local community again and reconnecting with local shoppers. Thank you to everyone who has come out to support the store reopening, we look forward to welcoming many more customers back in the coming days and weeks.”

Buckinghamshire Council has already invested £3.1 million in transforming the White Hart Street area and is spearheading a number of other flagship projects, with over £15 million being spent on High Wycombe overall. The sale of the former council offices will see the underused site put to better use and forms part of the Eastern Quarter of the town centre regeneration.