Multistorey car park proposed next to Whiteley housing estate draws dozens of complaints

A layout of Whiteley showing the South Car Park in relation to houses along Angelica Way.

The four-storey car parking building is proposed to replace a car park in Whiteley shopping centre, according to plans from architect firm Corstorphone and Wright.

It will allow for 345 more cars to be left in the area, but it has caused a raft of complaints from residents who fear it will bring increased pollution and congestion on the area’s roads.

Whiteley Town Council chairman Mike Evans said: ‘We desperately need some more car parking spaces – however we feel building a multistorey so close to Angelica Way is not ideal.

Whiteley shopping centre's South Car Park.

‘We had a similar problems with the cinema but this is closer to homes.

‘We recognise the architects have listened to residents, but this proposal doesn’t seem right.

‘‘Maybe they could put something on the main car park by M&S.’

Among the complaints submitted to Winchester City Council, Angelica Way resident Charlotte Poxon said: ‘This concrete jungle will devalue my property. Would you buy a house with a multi-storey car park overlooking you?’

But the location ‘benefits from easy accessibility’, according to the proposal by the firm.

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‘The selected site on the existing South Car Park benefits from easy accessibility and as a location, expands on the existing surface car parking provision, part of which will be retained.

‘The site also benefits from a number of existing mature trees which will aid in screening the multistorey car park, particularly along the west pond and the west boundary adjacent to the residences,’ the proposal finds.

Last April, drivers were left stuck in the South Car Park for hours after a faulty traffic lights caused crawling congestion throughout the area.

Extensive development work is under way across Whiteley, with more than 3,500 homes being built north of the town and road works being undertaken to improve access along both Bluebell Way and Parkway.

Whiteley Shopping centre is currently served by five different car parks, with more than 1,360 spaces.

The plans for the car park will appear before Winchester City Council’s planning committee on Tuesday, February 18.