Agenda item

Report of the Executive Director of Place

The objector has been invited to attend the meeting for the consideration of this item.

(NOTE: Pursuant to Paragraph 19, of the City Council's Constitution, Councillor J McNicholas, the nominee of the Chair of the Scrutiny Co-ordination Committee, has been invited to attend for the consideration of this matter and to agree the need for urgency such that call-in arrangements will not apply. The reason for urgency being that, to enable the first phase of the development to open for the academic year commencing September 2017, a planning application needs to be submitted in early September 2016 for consideration at Planning Committee on 29 September 2016. If the application is not submitted in time then the programme of works will be delayed and the timescales for opening will not be achievable.) 

The Cabinet Member for City Services considered a report of the Executive Director of Place concerning an objection that had been received to the proposals for the part closure of Cox Street car park. The objector was invited to the meeting for the consideration of this item but did not attend.

The report indicated that Cabinet, at their meeting on 9^th February 2016 (their minute 113/15 referred) and Council on 23rd February 2016 (their minute 125/15 referred), approved the partial disposal of the surface car park for the development of up to 1000 bed student housing.

Following the selection of the preferred developer, the formal closure procedure commenced with public notices inviting written objections to the part closure. One objection was received on concerns about the loss of parking spaces and the impact this might have on those using the swimming pool and leisure centre in Fairfax Street. Although accepting there may be other car parks nearby, the objector’s main concern was whether people would be prepared to make the additional walk especially on dark nights.

It was recognised that the reduction of spaces at Cox Street would cause disruption to the existing users of the car park. 144 spaces were being retained on site in Cox Street car park with the anticipated nearest exit from the retained car park increasing the walk to the swimming pool and leisure centre facility by approximately 100 metres. The car park under the ring road was lit and the route from the car park to the entrance of the swimming pool, which was on the public highway, was also lit.

There were two other public car parks which are within close proximity of the swimming pool and leisure centre at Lower Ford Street and Grove Street and these would remain accessible by the public throughout the construction phase of the development. These car parks had the greatest spare capacity at evenings and weekends.

As part of the finished development, the developer had committed to provide circa 170 spaces under the building which would be made available to the public. These spaces would be available at the same parking charge rate as the Council run car parks nearby. This commitment had been legally secured by way of a development agreement.

Councillor Hammon, Shadow Member raised a concern about the impact of the part closure of the car park for visitors to the nearby Britannia hotel. It was agreed that officers would liaise with the hotel regarding the closure and recommend that the hotel keep their visitors updated about the development.  

Due to the timescale for dealing with this matter and in accordance with Paragraph 19 of the City Council’s Constitution, Councillor J McNicholas, the nominee of the Chair of Scrutiny Co-ordination Committee, attended the meeting for the consideration of this matter and agreed the need for urgency such that call-in arrangements would not apply. The reason for the urgency being that, to enable the first phase of the development to open for the academic year commencing September 2017, a planning application needed to be submitted in early September 2016 for consideration at Planning Committee on 29th September 2016. If the application was not submitted in time then the programme of works would be delayed and the timescales for opening would not be achievable. 

RESOLVED that, after due consideration of the objection:

1) The objection be rejected and the car park closure procedure and the development be allowed to continue.

2) The objector be informed in writing of the Cabinet Member decision.

3) Officers be requested to speak to the representatives of the Britannia Hotel informing them of the part closure of Cox Street Car Park.