Multi-stories 'may provide parking for flats'

Plymouth City Council said 5,000 homes were planned for the city centre over the next five years

People living in flats in Plymouth city centre might be allocated parking spaces in public car parks in the future, a report suggests.

Plymouth City Council said 5,000 homes were planned for the city centre over the next five years - many of which are expected to be high-rise properties.

Council officers said it had capacity for more vehicles in 19 car parks across the city, specifically five multi-storey car parks.

A council report for the Housing and Community Services Scrutiny Panel said car parks were only full on "rare occasions" such as during the annual fireworks competition.

'Underused' car parks

It said car parks at Colin Campbell Court, Courtney Street, Marks and Spencer, Mayflower East and West, Napier Terrace, Plymouth City Market, Regent Street, St Andrews Street, Theatre Royal and Western Approach were currently "underused".

Officers said in the report there was an opportunity to explore the use of the car parks to support future housing developments as they had availability, reported the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Panel chairman Lee Finn said: "A car will always be the primary means of travel, whether that's the internal combustion engine, battery or hydrogen, whatever the future holds on that."

Philip Robinson, service director for street services, said there were "no plans to increase the number of car parks in the city centre" at this stage.

Council officers said £2m had been invested to maintain the operation of car parks in the city centre over the next 15 to 20 years.

Work included improved lighting, payment systems and upgraded CCTV, added the council.