Bigger Admiral Park depends on parking
THE developer of Admiral Park's £70m. office, hotel and cinema complex has pushed ahead with a planning application which includes 700 parking spaces, despite a negative response from planners in the pre-application discussions.
Project architect Andrew Merrett criticised the planners for a lack of pre-application advice on the project, especially considering the nearly £10,000 planning application fee being levied.
But planning director Jim Rowles said staff had given as much pre-application advice as possible in the context of the development being proposed.
He added that the concerns raised by Mr Merrett would be addressed in the detailed planning report.
Planners have approved plans for 470 spaces, but in the latest application by Comprop, Mr Merrett said this was simply not enough for companies interested in taking on the office space.
He said that if the planners stuck to their current position and refused to allow the new project to have the same level of parking as other neighbouring developments, then the scheme would not go ahead.
He said while the planners were trying to reduce the use of private vehicles, there were no practical alternatives.
