Land at 107 Sankey Street, Bewsey And Whitecross, Warrington, WA1 1NW

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

• Whether the car park would operate in such a way as to principally serve the town centre railway stations, namely Bank Quay, and whether further long stay car parking is needed for the Bank Quay Station
• Whether the proposal would preserve the setting of the Grade I listed Eastern Outbuilding to the Town Hall, the Grade II* listed Lamps on East and West Drive of the Town Hall, the Grade II* listed Town Hall Gates, Piers and Lamps, the Grade I listed Town Hall and the Grade I listed Western Building to the Town Hall and whether it would preserve or enhance the character or appearance of the Town Hall Conservation Area
• The effect of the loss of a residential site on the Council's five-year housing land supply
• Whether the proposal includes a satisfactory drainage strategy

What decided it

The appellant has not satisfactorily demonstrated through survey evidence that additional long stay car parking to serve Bank Quay Station is required, and therefore the proposal conflicts with Policy TC1 of the Local Plan and Policy TS4 of the Town Centre SPD.

The benefits of preserving heritage assets, maintaining drainage standards, and not prejudicing future housing delivery were outweighed by the failure to demonstrate a need for additional long stay car parking to serve the railway station.