Three-year public car park at Public Car Park And Amenity Area, Ipswich

“Recommendation:- Grant of planning permission subject to conditions: - 1. Development to be in accordance with approved drawings and requirements of succeeding conditions. Temporary permission – use of the car park shall cease within 3 years of the date of the decision (August 2028). Before first use details of soft landscaping (planters) shall be submitted and approved and implemented as approved. 4.”

“The application seeks use of the site as a public car park for a period of three years. The proposed development would have a new layout with 8 disabled car parking spaces, 113 car parking spaces (121 spaces in total), and 2 ticket machines. The existing entrance and the existing exit on Burrell Road would remain. 1.3.”

“The 2020 permission expired on 8 th April 2023 and the site was closed down as a public car park, which at the time was being operated by NCP. Site description 2.4. The site is hardsurfaced. There is a terrace of residential dwellings to the east all with rear gardens which back or side onto the site save for no 171 which backs onto 22 Stoke Street. There is an aggregates warehouse and retail store to the west of the site at No. Burrell Road. 2.7.”

“The site is within the Gipping and Orwell Valley Character Area. The Stoke Conservation Area is located to the east and the Grade I listed St Mary Stoke Church is across the road to the south of the site. The eastern part of the site is an Area of Archaeological Importance. The site is currently laid out as a car park although the most recent permission expired in April 2023 (ref. IP/20/00160/FUL). Heras fencing has been installed to close of the access points. 2.9.”

“The section concludes that whilst a temporary car park is not the optimum use of the site in design terms, the planning application provides an opportunity to enhance the visual amenities of the site albeit in a temporary form 5.57. Subject to conditions the proposal would be acceptable having regard to policy DM18. 6.Planning Balance 6.1. Decisions must be taken in accordance with the development plan unless there are material considerations that indicate otherwise. 6.2.”

“In these regards, the application must be considered on its merits and no other proposals have been put forward for the site’s redevelopment. The benefits of development weigh in favour and there are no substantive grounds to refuse planning permission. 7.Conclusion 7.1.”

“SCC Highways – No objection though highlights para 111 c of NPPF and policy SP34 of IBC Site Allocations and Policies DPD. Environment Agency – No objection. Applicant should be aware of the requirement for a Flood risk Activity Permit for any work near, on or over a main river. Further information is available at Flood risk activities: environmental permits -GOV.UK.”

“Conservation and Urban Design – Summary; The SPD requirements to improve the public realm along the urban route to the railway station combined with an enhancement of views across the river to the town are not supported by the current proposals.”

“Councillor Holmes commented that the proposal did not comply with Policy DM22 and that there could be harm to nearby heritage assets. The aspect from recent developments on the other side of the river would not be improved by the sight of parked cars. Councillor Holmes requested that, if permission was granted, conditions be added that would require surfacing improvements and treatment of the flank wall on the west side of the site.”

“Councillor Jones requested that a Management Plan be included as a condition to ensure the site was properly maintained and commented that 3 EV charging points for a 121-space car park was a reasonable and modest requirement, particularly as a Planning Inspector had recently upheld the requirement for 1 EV charging point for a 21-space car park on Ranelagh Road.”

“Development to be in accordance with approved drawings and requirements of succeeding conditions. Temporary permission – use of the car park shall cease within 3 years of the date of the decision (August 2028). Before first use details of soft landscaping (planters) shall be submitted and approved and implemented as approved. Before first use details of a landscape maintenance plan shall be submitted and approved and implemented as approved. 5.”

“Anchorage points for motorcycle should be a minimum of 7 spaces and electric charge vehicle spaces should be a minimum of 3 points. The applicant is advised to follow site management and remediation requirements of appropriate pollution control regimes.”