Popular car dealership to be DEMOLISHED after being deemed ‘unsafe’ & replaced with public parking area
A POPULAR car dealership is set to be demolished and replaced with a public parking area after being deemed “unsafe”.
The work is scheduled to begin in just weeks and could take 20 days to complete.
The site, at 46-70 Mountergate in Norwich, is 0.3 miles away from the train station.
It was once an STR Service Centre, an independent firm for car servicing, MOT’s, parts, tyres, wheel alignment and repair.
But now, the site has been dubbed “unsafe” and “in disrepair” by an agent for RCP Parking Ltd in a demolition application.
The demolition management plan, submitted by Mitchell Demolition Ltd, outlines asbestos removal, demolition and clearance of the premises to base slab level.
Tucked behind the Rose Lane Car Park, the site has become a magnet for graffiti since the garage closed several years ago.
And despite being situated within the King Street Character Area, it is not listed.
An officer for Norwich City Council declared it “does not contribute positively to the area’s character or appearance”.
Once demolished, the open space will be used to expand the current public car park.
It should result in “the exposure of a small part of the southern elevation of the adjoining multistorey car park,” but will otherwise “have minimal impact on the street scene”.
The work is scheduled to begin in early 2025 and is expected to take 17 to 20 days to complete.
It will temporarily function as a public parking area for 12 months, pending future development plans.
City Hall acknowledges that using the site for parking is not an optimal long-term solution, but retaining public access for an additional year is seen as a practical measure to prevent the space from becoming vacant and vulnerable to anti-social activities.
It comes after an application to Norwich City Council to revamp the RCP Car Park near Ber Street was recently approved.
Under these plans, the car wash facility will be extended and the car park tariff changed.