Controversy over plans for new Norwich city centre car park

Councillors will decide this week whether to allow a temporary car park to operate in Norwich city centre.

Applicant Highcourt Developments has submitted an application to Norwich City Council to use the former Eastern Electricity Board site in Duke Street for a car park.

The Riverside Road-based company wants to use the site for a short/medium term stay car park for two years with 93 spaces.

The proposed hours for the car park would be from 8am until 8pm Monday to Saturdays, except Thursdays when it would open until 9pm. It would open from 9am until 6pm on Sundays.

The application has caused controversy, with some neighbours claiming it will lead to more congestion in the streets nearby.

And the city council's own strategic parking manager has called for the application to be rejected. They say, in a report which will come before councillors on Thursday, that the new car park is 'unnecessary and detrimental to the area.' They said: 'Applications for temporary sites such as this are opportunist and detract from viability of operators in the area who have invested very heavily in parking assets to provide high levels of service and facilities.'

However, the council's planning officers are recommending that permission is granted, but only until March 16 next year.

An extension would have to be applied for to keep operating longer.

Councillors will discuss the application at a meeting in City Hall on Thursday.