Council overruled on decision to reject car park

A city centre car park rejected by the council over concerns it would hinder regeneration plans will not be removed.

The car park, on the corner of School Street and Fold Street in Wolverhampton, was opened without permission at the start of last year.

City of Wolverhampton Council blocked a move to allow the car park to remain but a government inspector has since overruled this and said it can stay for up to 12 months.

The government inspector said they had not been given "any substantive evidence" that the car park was "discouraging redevelopment".

Plans were approved to build 113 flats on the former Network House and shopping parade site in 2022, with Taylor Grange Developments as the main developer.

However, the land was then converted into a private 24-hour car park at the start of 2024 by Parkit Management, without planning permission from the council.

Planning officers rejected a retrospective application asking to ratify work that had been carried out unlawfully, claiming it went against the authority's plans to regenerate the area.

An appeal was lodged with the government's planning inspectors, which said the housing scheme's developer had explained it had not yet been able to secure funding to start the project but still intended to develop the site.

The inspector added the car park's terms included "a 28-day break clause for potential development which would ensure the housing development could begin when funds are secured".

The developer said the new flats would still be built but the car park would generate money for the development until "extremely high" construction costs dropped and the economy recovered.

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.

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