Cabinet approved the new High Wycombe Conservation Area on 10 November, adding Temple End and Gordon Road. Four old areas are now one, with a new management plan.

High Wycombe’s conservation area now takes in Temple End, Gordon Road, more of London Road and the south end of the cemetery. Buckinghamshire Council’s Cabinet approved the updated appraisal and management plan on Tuesday 10 November, the council said.

The decision also merges the town’s four existing conservation areas into one, under a single boundary.

What was added

The council named the four additions as:

  • the south end of High Wycombe Cemetery
  • Temple End and the former police station
  • Totteridge Avenue and Gordon Road
  • London Road and High Wycombe Cricket Club

We set out what each addition covers, from the Temple End cottages to the Gordon Arms, in our report before the meeting. That piece also has how the 24 consultation responses split on each area.

The council said the changes followed a detailed review and a six-week public consultation that ended in April. Feedback from residents, businesses and community groups helped shape the final appraisal and the management plan Cabinet adopted, it said.

What changes now

The management plan will guide future planning decisions in the area. The council said the aim is that “any future changes respect and enhance the qualities that make them unique”, while still supporting “appropriate future development”.

For people who live in one of the four added areas, more work now needs planning permission, including demolition, rendering or cladding outside walls, changes to the roof and larger extensions. Tree work needs six weeks’ notice. The full list is in our earlier report.

What the council said

Councillor Peter Strachan, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Planning, said:

“I’d like to thank everyone who took the time to share their views during the consultation. The feedback we received demonstrates how much people value High Wycombe’s history, character and heritage.

“The updated Conservation Area will help ensure that the features which make High Wycombe unique are recognised and protected for future generations.

“As the town continues to evolve, it is important that change is managed carefully and that new development respects the area’s historic character while supporting a thriving town centre and community.

“This updated appraisal gives us a strong framework for doing just that, helping to preserve what people value about High Wycombe while supporting its future.”

Wooburn Green’s conservation area is going through its own review, and comments on adding Holtspur Lane close on 29 November: the Wooburn Green proposals. For other planning in the district, see High Wycombe planning news.

Sources

  • Buckinghamshire Council press release, “High Wycombe Conservation Area updated to protect the town’s heritage”, 10 November 2026.
  • Buckinghamshire Council, report to Cabinet, 10 November 2026.