Barclays Bank to 'strip out and close' Princes Risborough branch

Barclays Bank has submitted to Bucks Council a planning application for the site of its former branch at 84 High Street, Princes Risborough.

Although plans detail the “removal of [the] existing external ATM and night safe and infill brickwork to match existing”, it also details other works.

These include the removal of counters and partitions, all furniture, decorations and signage, and also the undertaking of general repairs.

Once decommissioned, and internal and external repairs and redecorations are done, the Grade II Listed building will be ‘handed back to the landlord’, according to council documents.

The plans follow an announcement in March that several Barclays branches in Bucks will close permanently this year, with Princes Risborough shutting later that month.

The bank said more customers are choosing to deal with their finances online.

“With customers visiting our branches less and less each year, we must constantly assess how and why our branches are used and make decisions based on that insight,” it said at the time.

Other branches closing this year include Buckingham (June 25), Chesham (June 4), and Thame (July 2).

Barclays also closed branches in Stony Stratford, Aylesbury and Flackwell Heath in recent years, and Gerrards Cross in March.

Also in March, Barclays said more than 60 branches across the UK will be axed.

“All works are intended to involve the minimum intervention and not be detrimental to the existing building, retaining all the historic features,” a design and access statement reads.

It adds: “Consequently, the proposal will preserve the existing appearance and amenity of the application site and that of its neighbours.”

It also states the works are intended to be “reversible in the future”, enabling the “possibility of new uses or layouts within the context of its status”.

The applicant is now ‘awaiting a decision’ from Bucks Council.