Preparing for Friary Outer development

Published on Tuesday, 6th September 2011

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A number of car parks across the city have been changed to long-stay car parks, in preparation for the regeneration of Friary Outer car park

Work to build 60 homes, a 65-bed hotel, a restaurant, replacement toilets and a new 435 space car park on the Friary Outer car park site in Lichfield, is set to get underway later this year.

In preparation for the closure of the existing car park, which provides 265 long-stay spaces, Lichfield District Council has temporarily changed a number of short-stay car parks across the city into long-stay facilities, including Backcester lower deck, and the whole of Redcourt and the whole of University.

Councillor Louise Flowith, Lichfield District Council's Cabinet Member for Operational Services, said: "We would like to thank people for their patience and understanding as we prepare for the works to the Friary Outer.

"The existing car park is well used by people who work in or spend longer in the city, and we needed to make sure there are enough replacement long-stay car parking spaces when the car park shuts.

"With the changes we've made, there are still plenty of short-stay spaces elsewhere in the city for shorter visits, including the newly refurbished multi-storey and the top level of Cross Keys car park.

"We're proud to be involved in the redevelopment of the Friary Outer, as it will not only bring more car parking spaces to the city, it will also see 60 new homes created, as well as a hotel, restaurant and new public toilets."

To see a Lichfield City centre car park map, visit www.lichfielddc.gov.uk/carparkmap

The council is also asking that anyone who has a parking permit for Friary Outer to contact the local authority on 01543 687550, so they can update their permit to allow them to park in alternate car parks.

The public toilets at Friary Outer are set to be demolished, along with the car park. The new car park will provide toilet facilities, but while the works take place people can visit the nearby public toilets on the corner of Bird Street, next to the main entrance to Beacon Park. There are also public toilets in the Bird Street car park and the bus station on Birmingham Road.

About Friary Outer Development

Lichfield District Council is the landowner of the Friary Outer site.

No firm date has yet been fixed for the start of construction and the closure of the existing Friary Outer car park. In the meantime it will remain available for use.

The £14 million development will feature 54 supported housing association homes for older and less able residents, as well as six shared ownership homes, to give first time buyers a chance to get on the housing ladder.

Involved in the Friary Outer development are: Bromford Group, who will manage the supported homes, the Homes & Communities Agency, who invested £2.4 million into the scheme, and the developers, S Harrison.