The car park near Salisbury Cathedral seeks permanent status. Council to decide on upgrades & objections March 20 at Red Lion Hotel.
They renewed that permission several times. This happened in 2000, 2005, and also 2011. The last permission ran out in 2014. Still, the car park remains there now. The cathedral wants to make the car park permanent.
They need to get new planning permission for that. Wiltshire Council will decide at a meeting. The meeting is on Thursday, March 20, at The Red Lion Hotel. Council officers are suggesting approval.
The plan includes some improvements. They want to add EV chargers and bike parking. They also plan to resurface the car park. The car park has a Grade I-listed wall.
It runs along two of its sides. The cathedral says the upgrades promote green transport. People can charge EVs and park bikes safely. The car park has a one-way system.
Cars enter at Harnham Gate and exit onto West Walk. It holds 70 cars. Cathedral staff, volunteers, and visitors use it. The wall there is quite old, and a report mentions the car park’s history, stating it has been there since the 1970s.
Historic England doesn’t think it harms the area. Officials believe it can improve the site’s planning status. They suggest adding conditions and think it should be approved, despite losing an old tennis court.
The Salisbury Civic Society is against the plans. They dislike the bike parking, saying it blocks the wall and won’t be used. The Preservation Society also objects and wants better quality for the historic site.
The Cycling Opportunities Group has a different view. They think covered bike parking is beneficial but want CCTV for security. It could improve safety.
The council will also decide on hotel plans. They want to transform The Cathedral Hotel. It aims to be a five-star venue with a bar on the roof. Planners suggest rejecting the hotel plan. The changes would be too tall, exceeding 40 feet, so they are not recommending its approval.