New Development for Lichfield
Lichfield District Council is advising everyone who uses Friary Outer that the long-stay car park will be closed to motorists at 6pm on Thursday 29 March 2012.
The car park is closing so that work to redevelop the Friary Outer site can get underway in April. The £14 million Friary Outer scheme is set to provide more car parking spaces, new public toilets, affordable homes, a hotel and a restaurant.
The council has put up posters across the car park that feature a map pointing out nearby car parks, including University, Backcester and Redcourt car parks, among others.
Councillor Mike Wilcox, Leader of Lichfield District Council, said: “Friary Outer is a popular car park, and we know it will be missed while the development takes shape.
“So that everyone is ready, we’re recommending everyone who uses it to take a look at our interactive map at www.lichfielddc.gov.uk/carparkmap to find an alternative car park. And, if you have a parking permit for Friary Outer, please call the council on 01543 687550 so we can update your permit to allow you to park in nearby car parks.”
The public toilets on the Friary Outer site will also be closed this month. These facilities are closing to the public from Thursday 22 March 2012. The nearest public toilets are on Swan Road (next to the entrance to Beacon Park). There are also facilities in Bird Street car park and Lichfield Bus Station on Birmingham Road.
In preparation of building work starting on site, some trees will be felled along the entrance to the car park. This will take place from 19 March. The trees that will be removed to make way for the development have been generally deemed either diseased or in poor health. The pavement along The Friary will be closed while work takes place to the trees on site and to trees along the footpath, which are being trimmed back at the same time. Work is also taking place alongside the Festival Gardens side of the Friary Outer site – which will include removing some shrubs and trees.
The car park closure date has followed developer S Harrison’s announcement that everything is now in place for work to start on the Friary Outer redevelopment.
The contract became unconditional this week, which means all the legal issues relating to the scheme are resolved, so the developers expect contractors to start work on site in April.
S Harrison has teamed up with Lichfield District Council and Bromford Group to develop the 1.8 acre site. When it is complete, the new scheme will provide 60 affordable homes. Of these, 54 will be supported living apartments for older people, with the remaining six affordable homes available as shared ownership. The housing scheme has benefited from £2.4 million funding from the Homes & Communities Agency (HCA).
Bromford residents, currently living in Sandford Gate, will move into the new accommodation once it is completed. Bromford then plan to redevelop Sandford Gate.
Amelia McCann, Head of Development at Bromford, said: “This is a flagship scheme for Bromford and our Sandford Gate residents are extremely excited about moving into this quality development in a fabulous location.”
A new car park, which will be owned and managed by Lichfield District Council, will increase parking provision from just over 250 spaces, to more than 400 spaces.
Councillor Mike Wilcox, Leader of Lichfield District Council, said: “We’re delighted the contract has gone unconditional, so that things can move forward with the redevelopment of this key site. It is an exciting development for the city, bringing with it much needed housing, extra parking, a hotel and retail space.
To keep up to date on Friary Outer redevelopment, please visit www.lichfielddc.gov.uk/friaryouter
