Derelict car park to be transformed into flats in ‘dystopian’ UK first
A disused multi-storey car park is being transformed turned into more than 100 flats in a UK first.
The Midway car park in Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire, originally planned for demolition after the council deemed it too weak to hold modern electric cars, is being transformed into 111 new apartments.
It is the first conversion of its kind to happen not just in the UK, but also in Europe, according to Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council.
Transforming the 655-space car park into new flats is underway, with property developer Capital and Centric expecting people to move in within the next 18 months.
The £20 million new build, named Karparc, began in January, with ramps being removed to make way for one, two and three-bed apartments, and an extension on the rooftop for more flats.
Each one-bedroom flat will cover the size of five parking spaces.
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Rent is expected to cost between £900 and £1,000 as the property developers hope to bring ‘affordable housing for local working people’.
Tim Heatley, co-founder of Capital and Centric, described the new build as ‘architecturally incredible’.
He added: ‘We’re well aware taking a multi-storey carpark and turning it into apartments is quite dystopian.
‘Who wants to live in a car park that smells of wee? Is there asbestos?
‘These are all insurmountable problems that can be overcome.’
But he said opting to repurpose the concrete frame into flats would help to minimise costs.
The new flat will also feature an on-site gym, mini cinema, yoga studio, Peloton room and a residents’ lounge and library.
The only part of the car park that will remain intact is the basement, which will offer spaces for new residents.
The Midway car park was built in the 1960s, but closed in early 2025 after the 468-space Castle car park in Ryecroft was opened last January.
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