Car park extension at Station Car Park Unnamed Road from Glebe Farm to B6049 Millers Dale

What was proposed

The application proposed extending the existing car park westwards, adding 49 bays and creating a net increase of 48 car spaces.

“The application proposes the extension of the existing car park at Miller’s Dale to the west, providing an additional 49 car parking bays. The application also proposes a reconfiguration of the existing parking bays which would turn 5 car bays into 4 minibus/large vehicle bays. Therefore, the net increase would be 48 car parking bays.”

“The application proposes extend the existing Miller’s Dale car park 65m to the west along the line of an existing section of trail which links the car park to the Monsal Trail, in addition to further bays to the south of the ‘overflow’ area at the western end of the existing car park.”

Officer report

The site and surroundings

The site is a former station area with a car park, café, toilets, interpretation space and the Monsal Trail, within the Millers Dale Conservation Area.

“The former Millers Dale Station site is a mixed-use site comprised of car park, café, public toilets and interpretation space located in open countryside on the road to Wormhill which rises up from Millers Dale village in the valley bottom beneath the viaduct. The site sits on a level area of land and includes the car park and surviving station buildings and platforms. The Monsal Trail crosses the site along the route of the former railway.”

“The site is located within the designated Millers Dale Conservation Area. The viaducts are located to the east of the station, North Viaduct is Grade II listed and South Viaduct is Grade II* listed. The former station is not listed but does form part of the Historic Buildings, Sites and Monuments Records as a non-designated heritage asset.”

Officer report

Earlier permissions

Earlier permissions covered the original car park, a car park extension, visitor facilities, a café, interpretation space and a changing places facility.

“2018: Planning permission granted conditionally for change of use of former station building from office and workshop to visitor information point and café, extension to car park (NP/HPK/0518/0407)”

“2023: Planning permission granted for Changing places facility (NP/HPK/0823/0972).”

Officer report

Why officers recommended approval

Officers found a demonstrated parking need and considered the proposal acceptable for landscape, ecology, heritage, contamination, amenity and highway safety, subject to conditions.

“This application does not propose measures to decrease on-street parking. The stretch of road from B6049 to Glebe Farm has been double yellow lined for several years following inconsiderate and anti-social parking long it. There are no opportunities to decrease on-street car parking as a result of this application. Additionally, there are no opportunities for ‘pop up’ car parks nearby as a result of the difficult topography formed from the Wye Valley.”

“Therefore, the failure to provide on-street compensation for the additional 48 car parking bays will need to be weighed up in the wider balance, considering the impact of the proposed development on the landscape character, archaeology, cultural heritage, ecology, highway safety and amenity.”

Officer report

Who spoke

An objector and the applicant’s Corporate Property Team Manager spoke under the public participation scheme.

What members discussed

Members discussed parking controls, visitor numbers, trail funding, capacity, larger vehicle spaces, horse boxes and the evidence supporting the proposal.

“Some Members had visited the site the previous day.”

“The policy principal for this application was detailed and discussion over whether the development was acceptable without controls to on-street parking • There is no reduction in on-street parking proposed as part of the application, there are double yellow lines outside of this proposal • There is no capacity for pop-up carparks in the immediate area • The site currently serves 130,000 visitors per year, money from the car park is invested directly back into the upkeep of…”

Minutes

The committee vote

A motion to approve the application with conditions was moved, seconded and carried.

“A motion to approve the application with the conditions outlined below, was moved, seconded, put to the vote and carried.”

“That the application be APPROVED subject to the following conditions:”

Minutes