Sewer problems scupper car park plans at flagship redevelopment

The new scheme would see the building grow in height, but occupy a smaller area, if planners allow the late changes to go ahead.

Planning permission has already been granted for the existing design and the the demolition of the town’s 1970s multi-storey car park last month means the project is technically under way.

But new permission is needed for the changes, which would see the building grow from a maximum of six storeys to 7.5 storeys, while occupying a smaller piece of land and losing 13 parking spaces.

Councillors are being recommended to approve the changes, which are needed because of a conflict with public sewer works under ground “which threaten delivery of the scheme”.

That change would involve a section currently designed to rise only to five storeys, but would be an equivalent height only to the Alhambra Centre car park, which is nearby.

A benefit of the change is that the new design would need to occupy a smaller footprint of land, in an area which is being redeveloped to include shops, restaurants, a cinema complex and bowling alley.

Thirteen parking spaces would be lost if the change was approved, taking the total available to just under 500.

A report to councillors states: “The scope of this application is purely to consider the changes to the proposed new multi-storey car park with the previous version of this and all other buildings associated with the phase two parts of the Glassworks development.

“The changes would see the size of the building reduced in terms of the amount of space it would be occupy on the ground.

“This would see it avoiding conflicting with a public sewer easement which threatens the delivery of the scheme.”