Plans revealed for '500 space' car park near centre of Coventry

[dutchman]

It would be seven storeys high and include bicycles and bike maintenance areas



Plans for a massive car park by Coventry's ring-road have been unveiled. Coventry University have applied for outline permission for a seven-storey building with 500 parking spaces including 23 accessible ones.

The new "transport hub" would have rooftop solar panels, 48 electric car charging bays and potential to convert 198 of the other car spaces, and storage for 120 cycles and 21 motorcycles. It would replace the university's 110-space surface car park at Cox Street.

A statement with plans claimed car parking is a "divisive issue" at the university. It said the organisation must make changes to have room for growth - such as potentially 6,000 extra students by 2030 - and 210 parking spaces were lost recently.

But the report author also pointed out that the university aims to be carbon net zero by 2030, meaning it will not advocate new solo car trips. It means the university is looking to replace lost spaces and add just 300 extra ones for future students and staff.

Another reason for the scheme, which has been 10 years in the planning, is to encourage university staff to use electric vehicles, the report said. It added the building would have a cycle hub with showering and changing facilities plus bike maintenance areas.

The building would also allow other small pockets of parking around the city to be removed - supporting plans for more green spaces - the document claimed. Plans are outline only at the moment, meaning a future "reserved matters" scheme would have to be submitted and approved before any work starts.

Coventry council has not yet made a decision on the project. More details of the plans can be viewed on the authority's planning portal via reference: PL/2024/0002292/OUT.

[dutchman]

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