Aylesbury's former Reg Maxwell swimming pool building and Civic Centre are to be demolished to progress plans for a redevelopment of the town centre.

The Civic Centre's multi-storey car park will also be pulled down as part of the scheme, with all three council-owned properties to make way for a new temporary surface car park. It is hoped that the demolition work, which is due to start in January 2011, will open up opportunities for the overhaul of the north side of Exchange Street.

The swimming pool closed in 2001 to make way for the Aqua Vale Swimming and Fitness Centre, while the opening of the Aylesbury Waterside Theatre in October will leave the Civic Centre redundant. Aylesbury Vale District Council leader John Cartwright said: "There have been no final decisions on what shape and form the development on the north side of Exchange Street will take.

"But by beginning the demolition work early next year, we are ensuring that the site will be cleared for redevelopment when we are ready to move forward."