First look at planned new ‘DesBox’ building

Work to build a new development of studios and workshops for Wycombe’s artist community has begun this week. DesBox, a complex of 52 units, is being built in Baker Street as part of Wycombe District Council’s Desborough Area Renewal initiative.

A piling rig was on site this week putting in foundations for the build. It is due for completion in early 2019.

The council says DesBox will provide commercial workshops, studios and storage units for creative entrepreneurs based in High Wycombe and will help to bring Wycombe’s industrial past, which was based on creative skills, into the twenty first century.

It will be created out of re-purposed shipping containers, resulting in a distinctive and innovative hub for the current generation of artists, craftsmen and small to medium sized enterprises (SMEs) in the creative industries sector.

“It’s great to see the new Aldi opening and the groundwork being done to start the construction of DesBox this week” said Cllr Steve Broadbent, Wycombe District Council’s Cabinet Member for Economic Growth and Regeneration when he went onsite this week.

"The Aldi development and DesBox are both part of our bigger vision for the transformation of the whole Desborough Area. This will see new homes which are currently being built behind the Eden Centre at Centre Square, new apartments in the former furniture warehouses on Leigh Street, and the creation of employment space at DesBox. I can’t wait to see it all coming to fruition over the coming months.”

The DesBox units are currently being fitted out in Suffolk. These will be delivered to the site over the next three months in three phases.

Read here.