Supermarket planning to sacrifice ‘underused’ car park spaces for new units
MORRISONS TO CUT 38 BAYS UNDER PLANS TO WELCOME AUTOCENTRE AND CAR BUYING SERVICE ON SITE
THE size of Morrisons’ ‘underused’ car park in Burton could be cut if new plans are approved.
The supermarket, off Wellington Road, in the town, is hoping to get rid of 38 of its 704 parking spaces and make way from two small businesses.
Plans have been submitted to East Staffordshire Borough Council for permission to build an autocentre and a detached pod containing a Webuyanycar unit.
Peacock and Smith, acting on behalf of Morrisons, said in a report to the council: “The proposal will result in the loss of 38 out of the 704 parking spaces from the Morrisons store, the spaces are located at the back of the store furthest from the entrance.
“The spaces, from Morrisons records as well as knowledge of the site, are consistently underutilised, as customers prefer not to park in spaces furthest from the store entrance.
“The loss of just 38 spaces will have a less than significant impact on the capacity and safe function of the car park.
“The proposal will not see a sustained, constant increased flow of traffic throughout operating hours due to the dwell time spent, and low capacity of the structure and pod.
“Overall, the proposal is making use of under-utilised land, which could serve better purposes outside of providing parking provision via a minor development application.
“The proposals’ design, scale and use are appropriate for the area, and the layout and design of the structure and pod make the proposal a smallscale development, and as it is building upon already in place-tarmac, it would not increase flooding and flood risk elsewhere.
“The scheme would provide a greater number of services and offerings to local residents that were not on site previously, while only remaining ancillary to the main store.”
The largest structure would be part of a MOT service and other repairs service offered by IN and OUT, an autocentre provider which offers a range of motor vehicle repair and maintenance services across the UK.
The second smaller ‘pod’ would be an office-type structure with branding on the outside, occupied bywebuyanycar, a used motor vehicle buyer and seller. The offering would be a pocket show room, with cars for trade sitting in parking spaces behind the larger IN and OUT pod. Webuyanycar offers people the opportunity to have their vehicles valued and/or the ability to trade in a vehicle. A decision is due in the next few months.
The loss of just 38 spaces will have a less than significant impact on the capacity and safe function of the car park.
Applicant