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The Paper Mill Site
St Regis Paper Company Ltd is beginning a process of investigating options for the future of its Taplow site. This has been prompted by the emerging Local Development Framework for South Bucks that will replace the existing Local Plan to provide a new planning policy context for the District. This presents a unique opportunity to undertake a comprehensive review of the area known by some as the 'Taplow Triangle'. Various factors, such as the potential for improvements to the River Thames and landscape setting within the Green Belt, open space provision, transportation and access, public accessibility and the consideration of sympathetic redevelopment can all be discussed. The company has appointed property advisers GVA Grimley LLP to assist St Regis in assessing alternatives and in liaising with South Bucks District Council, the local community and other interested parties. Part of the process will involve evaluating local needs including residential, employment, leisure and community requirements. During this process, Taplow Mill and its associated activities will continue to operate as usual and provide customers with a full service. It is inevitable that the planning process will create speculation about the future of the Mill but St Regis is taking this action in order to establish the options open to it. The timescale for the consultation process is likely to be around nine months, running in parallel with the preparation of the Local Development Framework. Once it is completed, St Regis will be seeking a new policy context for the site and may apply for planning permission to develop appropriate parts of the site within a comprehensive environmental framework. The whole freehold site covers approximately 48 acres and comprises the Mill, the former Skindles Hotel, Windrush Garage (on a lease) and the Severnside Recycling Depot, as well as large areas of open space with potential amenity value. A number of base line studies of planning, transport, flood risk, ecology, landscape, archaeology and contamination are being undertaken. These will help to develop a planning framework for the site and ensure that due regard is given to all important environmental considerations. St Regis will keep interested parties informed at major steps throughout the process. Initial discussions with Taplow Parish Council and other local amenity and stakeholder groups have already commenced. There will be a public consultation exercise to seek opinions on any indicative proposals for the site. Details of this exercise and further news announcements, will be released when appropriate and notices placed on the St Regis website.
The St Regis land is shown in red.