Plans to demolish multi-storey car park submitted

Covent Garden Car Park, on Russell Street, was permanently closed in 2023

Plans have been submitted to demolish a multi-storey car park in Leamington Spa amid concerns of an "insolvable structural issue".

Covent Garden Car Park, on Russell Street, was permanently closed in 2023 after it was deemed unsafe.

Warwick District Council has since decided the car park has no long-term future and has drawn up plans to knock it down.

The council said it expected work, which would take several months, to start in spring 2025.

Will Roberts, the council's portfolio holder for neighbourhoods, said the plans had been designed to "minimise disruption to residents, businesses, and visitors".

He added: “The demolition of this building is long overdue and once complete we are looking forward to working in partnership with the Leamington Transformation Board to bring the site forward as part of their ambitious programme of work to renew and regenerate the town centre.

“In the meantime, we will continue to work closely with all affected by the work and provide regular communications via our website and newsletters.”

If the demolition plans are approved by the council's planning committee, the authority will seek a contractor to undertake the works, with a view to providing more details around the management of noise, dust and working hours.

Work to create a long-term plan for the site was ongoing, the council said.