An unauthorised city centre car park could be permitted to remain despite standing in the way of the City of Wolverhampton Council’s regeneration plans. The authority had previously blocked a move that would allow the car park, located at the junction of School Street and Fold Street, to stay after it was constructed without permission earlier this year.
The council’s planners argued that the car park contradicted its regeneration plans for the western part of Wolverhampton city centre, expressing their preference for the original plan of 113 new flats to proceed. An appeal has now been submitted to the government’s planning inspectors, who have the authority to overrule the council, in an attempt to reverse the decision.
The developer stated that the new flats would still be built in the future, but the car park would generate funds for the development until “extremely high” construction costs decreased and the economy rebounded. The application further stated that if the council rejected the car park plans, the site would “quickly revert to being a wasteland and eyesore” filled with “rubbish, needles, rubble and no lights.”
The 24-hour car park was constructed on land designated for 113 flats when plans were approved to demolish Network House and an ageing shopping parade in 2019.
The illegal car park is situated next to the council’s own 270-space Fold Street car park. Plans to transform the former Beatties car park opposite into new flats were approved in 2022, reports Birmingham Live.
The main developer, Taylor Grange Developments, had the buildings demolished but managed to secure an extension for planning permission for the proposed flats for an additional three years in 2022. However, a patch of land was turned into a private 24-hour car park at the start of the year by car park manager Parkit Management without first obtaining planning consent from the council.
Subsequently, a retrospective application to legitimise the work done without permission was rebuffed by council planning officers, who criticised the car park as being entirely inconsistent with the originally approved plans for 113 flats and counterproductive to the council’s regeneration objectives for the area. A report from the council on Parkit Management’s application stated: “[The plans for 133 flats] made the most efficient use of land and the best design solution to a comprehensive and high-density approach that integrates with existing street patterns and creates new spaces, routes and views which take reference from and enhance the historic characteristics of the wider city area.”
Additionally, it noted that “As such the proposal is unacceptable and contrary to the provisions of the approved policies in the development plan.”
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