Planning application: £860,000 car park clause

Monday 07 August 2017

A major housing development has been given the go ahead but developers have had to agree to stringent terms and conditions including stumping up £860,000 for public car parking.

In March private developers were given in principal planning permission to knock down the existing gas works and associated offices, showroom and staff accommodation in Tunnell Street and build up to 253 one, two and three bedroom flats, and two commercial units all with semi-basement parking.

But the project has been stalled ever since because residents lodged an appeal. Now, acting on advice from an independent inspector, Assistant Planning Minister Constable Steve Pallott has rejected the appeal, and signed off the deal. The independent inspector says the concerns raised by the appellants have already been dealt with.

Pictured: The proposed site for the Tunnell Street housing development. (Google Maps) 

But developers haven’t got it all their own way. They’re being forced to carry out a number of measures to limit the environmental impact of the scheme.

The principal provision of the Planning Obligation Agreement means the developers have to give the States £860,000, “...towards the development or enhancement of public car parking (whether on or off-street) and / or associated infrastructure. The provision of a bus shelter in the environs of the site would also be paid out of this sum.”