New 75-space car park planned for Shaftesbury, Dorset, including EV chargers and motorhome spaces, targeting parking shortages.
The town really needs more parking because shops and the arts centre are nearby, where existing parking fills up fast.
The car park will go on New Road, on the old ATS garage site, which is already clear. It’s across from the Bell Street car park, and the site is about half an acre.
Britannia plans four motorhome spaces with cars entering from New Road and exiting onto Kings Hill. People will build a short path on Bleke Street.
The car park will help Shaftesbury, they say, and planting hedges and trees will improve the area and make things look nicer over time. The site has been empty for years. Someone once wanted to build a retirement home there with 28 beds, and another idea was for 24 houses.
A report says building houses isn’t likely because the site was for sale a long time, but no one made it happen.
The agent said parking is less than it was. Coppice Street and Cattle Market lots closed. Tesco used to offer four hours, but that’s changed. Lidl also took away spots, and Bell Street lost about fifteen spaces too.
Shaftesbury has grown since 2001, adding about 3000 people while public parking has decreased greatly.
See the council website for details with the provided reference number where you can view plans and current site photos.