Apartment block car park to triple in size

MSR Properties said the size of the car park for the apartment block was currently "woefully inadequate"

A "woefully inadequate" car park at an apartment block is to triple in size after a council approved plans.

The move to increase the number of spaces at Telecom House in Church Street, Wolverhampton, has been backed by City of Wolverhampton Council.

The application by MSR Properties states that seven trees will need to be felled to make way for the work for the 144 apartments at the recently converted block, but the trees would be replaced alongside other landscaping.

The former offices sit in the city's St John's conservation area – one of the most historic parts of the city centre.

In their application, MSR Properties said they would address the "woefully inadequate" car park, claiming Telecom House was "an important site for the city" with the dwellings "enhancing the city centre".

"It is unlikely the proposals would create undue harmful impacts on visual amenity or the setting, character or appearance of heritage assets," the report said.

"Highway safety is unlikely to be significantly affected."

Original staff car park

A statement included with the application said the building had been home to the General Post Office before the telecoms service was privatised in the late 1980s.

"Until recently, it has accommodated British Telecom until its conversion to apartments in the last few years," it said.

"The proposal seeks to increase the number of parking spaces for residents who currently pay for privatised public parking elsewhere in the city.

"The reason for this paucity is that the original staff car park for the building was sold off separately.

"This application is predicated on the sensible desire for as many residents as possible to be accommodated within the curtilage of the converted building."