There are concerns a popular Gloucester car park could be built on as it is being identified as site for up to 40 new homes.
Southgate Moorings car park at The Docks has been marked for development as part of the emerging strategic and local plan for Gloucester, Cheltenham and Tewkesbury.
Council officers across the three areas have been working on the new blueprint which sets out where development will take place over the next 20 years.
The three areas need to find land for a combined total of 43,879 homes. And councillors in the city last night (November 10) endorsed the plan and to go to the next stage of public consultation.
However, concerns were raised during the Gloucester City Council meeting about a proposal which could see new homes built on the city council-owned car park in Southgate Street.
The 179-space car park is popular with people who visit Gloucester Docks and councillor Andrew Gravells (C, Abbeydale) questioned the rationale behind its inclusion in the development plan.
“I float whether or not it’s a good idea to get rid of the car park just outside and build housing on it,” he said.
“Other parts of the report talk about more investment, more shopping and more facilities for visitors.
“Well that car park is key to what’s going on here in the Gloucester Docks area and I really do wonder whether or not we are doing the right thing by removing the car park and building yet more homes.
“Even though, we all know, we need more homes but it’s not one or the other, we need both.”
Councillor Sarah Sawyer (LD, Longlevens), who was the cabinet member for planning before the Liberal Democrat administration was toppled in September, told the meeting that there would be
“plenty of parking” for visitors.
“Officers have done a big car park review and looked at all of the car parks across the city and worked out which ones we need to keep and which ones we don’t,” she said.
“There will be plenty of car parking for people who come to the city, I just want to reassure you about that.”
By Carmelo Garcia – Local Democracy Reporter