Agenda item

Report of the Director of Transportation and Highways

The Cabinet Member considered a report of the Director of Transportation and Highways which sought approval for the closure of six Council operated car parks to help reduce the amount of surplus places available in the short to medium term, pending a detailed review of the Parking Strategy to consider the long term options including the possible disposal, redevelopment, or re-purposing of the assets.

The report indicated that the city centre parking strategy was approved by Cabinet in September 2016 and this strategy included clear aims and objectives for managing parking provision to ensure the right balance of spaces to meet future demands for parking whilst improving the quality of the facilities and ensuring they were in the right locations. The City Council currently operated twenty-three public car parks across the city comprising 3,840 spaces. Eighteen of the car parks were in, or near to, the city centre and these car parks had capacity for 3,600 spaces. Demand for parking had been increasing for some time and this growth had been expected to continue. However, since April 2020 demand for city centre parking had been significantly impacted due to Covid19, lockdown, and changes in travel behaviours in general. Some of these changes were expected to be long-lasting if not permanent. During the period April to September 2020, car park occupancy levels had been less than 25% of total capacity. Consequently, there had regularly been fewer than 900 spaces occupied and more than 75% (or 2,700) empty spaces.

In the short term, it was proposed to decommissioning and close six city centre public car parks with the aim of shrinking the car park estate and reduce the overall total capacity by 874 spaces (24%) which would help to close the gap between parking provision and demand, whilst reducing some operational running costs. It was proposed that the following car parks be closed at the earliest opportunity pending a further review of the City Centre Car Parking Strategy: 

i.  New Union Street multi-storey car park (MSCP) (240 spaces)

ii.  Cheylesmore surface car park (45 spaces)

iii.  City Arcade roof top car park (231 spaces)

iv. Leicester Row car park (80 spaces)

v.  Moat Street surface car park (153 spaces)

vi. Whitefriars Street surface car park (125 spaces)

A map showing the location of the above car parks was set out at an Appendix to the report. It was the intention that a report be submitted to Communities and Neighbourhoods Scrutiny Board (4) and Cabinet in due course outlining the long term options for managing the car park estate.

The report set out additional information on the location; the current state of the car parks; the current occupancy levels; the impact of closure; and the alternative parking options in the areas of the car parks put forward for closure. It was noted that the Moat Street car park would cease to exist following a redesign of the road network in that area as part of the air quality improvement measures that had previously been approved by Cabinet.

The Cabinet Member was informed that following the publication of the report, a representation had been received on behalf of the traders in City Arcade requesting that City Arcade roof top car park remain open during the current difficult trading climate. The shops were to be given a facelift and it was hoped to increase footfall in the vicinity and keeping the car park open would support this. The Cabinet Member outlined her support for the traders.

RESOLVED that:

1) The temporary closure of New Union Street and Cheylesmore car parks, both of which are in a poor condition and in need of significant financial investment, be approved.

2) Approval be given that Salt Lane car park is reclassified as ‘long stay’  and amend the parking charges in Salt Lane accordingly so that there is no detrimental financial impact to the general public arising from the closure of New Union Street and Cheylesmore car parks.

3) The temporary closure of Whitefriars Street and Leicester Row car parks be approved as they are under-utilised and are not in the right location.

4) The permanent closure of Moat Street car park, in line with plans to redesign and remodel Ring Road junction 7 as part of the Air Quality Action Plan, be approved.

5) Approval be given for officers to commence the legal process to remove the five car parks from the Off-Street Parking Places Order 2005.

6) Following the representation received, approval be given for the City Arcade roof top car park to remain open.