“Illegal” parking could remain despite the council saying it is destroying regeneration plans

An “illegal” town center car park could be allowed to remain despite the council saying it is hampering its regeneration plans.

The city of Wolverhampton Council blocked a move that would allow a car park on the corner of School Street and Fold Street Wolverhampton town center to remain after it was built without permission earlier in the year.

Local authority planners said the car park went against its regeneration plans for west Wolverhampton city center and wanted to see the original plan for 113 new flats.

An appeal has now been lodged with the government’s planning inspectors, who have the power to overrule the council, in a bid to overturn the decision.

The developer said the new apartments would still be built in the future, but the parking lot would generate money for the development until “extremely high” construction costs come down and the economy recovers. The application went on to say that if the council rejected the parking plans, the site would “rapidly revert to being a wasteland and blight” with “rubbish, needles, debris and no lights”.

The 24-hour car park was built on land earmarked for 113 flats when plans to demolish Casa Rețela and an out-of-date shopping parade were approved in 2019.

The illegal parking is next to the council’s own 270-space Fold Street car park. Plans to convert the former Beatties car park opposite into new flats were approved in 2022.

While the buildings were then demolished, an application from lead developer Taylor Grange Developments to extend planning permission for the proposed flats for a further three years was then approved in 2022.

A patch of land was then turned into a 24-hour private car park earlier in the year by Parkit Management, which runs the car park, without planning permission from the council.

A retrospective application – seeking to ratify work that had already been carried out illegally – was then rejected by planning officers at City of Wolverhampton Council, who said the tarmac car park was a far cry from the 113 flats originally promised and was against council plans. to regenerate the area.

A report outlining the council’s decision against Parkit Management’s application said: “(The plans for 133 flats) used the most efficient use of land and the best design solution for a comprehensive and high-density approach that integrates with existing street patterns and create new spaces. , routes and views that reference and enhance the historical features of the wider city area.

“As such, the proposal is unacceptable and contrary to the provisions of the approved policies in the development plan.”