Two Lancaster multi-storey car parks could be replaced by new 'transport hubs' on outskirts of city

Two multi-storey car parks in Lancaster could be replaced with two new 'transport hubs' on the fringes of the city under a new blueprint for the future of parking in the city centre.

Long-term plans to replace covered car parks at St Nicholas Arcades and the Castle with new hubs north and south of Lancaster have been included in Lancaster City Council's new draft parking strategy for the city.

A review of the "condition and utility" of St Nicholas Arcades car park and Castle car park could be carried out within the next decade and a feasibility study into the new transport hubs completed within the next seven years.

"The vision for new transport hubs is to reduce the number of cars flowing through the city centre, reduce congestion and improve air quality," said a council spokesperson.

"While there are sites which are being considered, no decisions have been taken as to where these may be located as yet."

Members of the public and local businesses can now have their say on the draft strategy before a final version is agreed.

The strategy says the council aims to provide 1300 to 1400 off-street parking spaces in Lancaster city centre in future to "provide sufficient capacity for currently identified peak demand periods".

There are currently a total of 1624 parking spaces in city council-run car parks in Lancaster city centre.

This includes permit-holders only car parking and the 287-space Castle Car Park, which is currently closed for refurbishment due to safety reasons but is due to reopen in 2025.

The car park has been shut since the beginning of June 2023 when concrete began to fall from the ceiling on the upper level.

Figures from January 2024 show that average occupancy of council-run car parks was 70 per cent, with peak occupancy of 95 per cent in December and the lowest occupancy of 60 per cent in April.

A council spokesperson said: "The majority of journeys made to the city centre are by bus, bike or on foot.

"The council has not noted any major impact on the economic health of the town centre, highway implications or driver utility with the current off street parking provision. It will however, continue to monitor the situation."

Also in the draft strategy - three permit-only car parks in Lancaster would be converted to short-stay within the next three years, parking at the car park opposite the old Kingsway bus station would be expanded to create 20-70 new long-stay spaces, and 70-150 temporary coach and car parking spaces would also be created on council land by early 2025 at locations to be confirmed.

Lancaster City Council said this would be to counteract the planned loss of parking spaces when new housing is built on the Nelson Street and St Leonardsgate car parks as part of the planned Canal Quarter development.

A loss of 126 spaces is expected from mid-2025 at Nelson Street, followed by a loss of 181 spaces and six coach parking spaces at Upper and Lower St Leonardsgate by 2026.

There are also long-term plans to build on the 89-space Edward Street car park, but the council said there would be a "managed and phased release" of car parking spaces to "ensure limited net loss".

The city council said that any net loss of spaces would not affect the continuing availability of private parking in Lancaster, nor the availability of on-street parking provided by Lancashire County Council.

The draft strategy also includes a plan to close all 'small surface' car parks within 15 years.

These include Lucy Street, Wood Street, Spring Garden Street, Windy Hill and Bridget Street car parks. But the council said that "any potential closure of these car parks will be dependent on the success of the long term strategy".

The draft strategy also includes promoting the use of modern technology for car parking payments, developing an electric vehicle charging strategy, and encouraging use of existing Park and Ride facilities including the 650-space Park and Ride at the junction of Caton Road and the M6 Junction 34, which is run by Lancashire County Council.

The council's draft parking strategy and action plan was approved for public consultation at a meeting of the Cabinet last Thursday.

They said "the strategy aims to provide reassurance to both businesses and community stakeholders that the council can provide sufficient parking spaces whilst maintaining its overarching commitment to climate action and delivering other priorities such as new homes for local people".

"Through its declared Climate Emergency, the council also recognises the need to support the transitioning to an accessible and inclusive low-carbon and active transport system, promoting cycling, walking and increased use of public transport."

They said that the "impact of the approach will be closely monitored, and any negative impacts mitigated".

CURRENT CAR PARKING IN LANCASTER CITY CENTRE

There are currently 22 car parks in Lancaster city centre which are owned by Lancaster City Council.

The total spaces in these car parks is 1624, with 1589 of them for general use.

Nineteen of these are for general use, and three are permit-only.

Council owned car parks (available spaces in brackets)

Auction Mart (120)

Castle (287)

Cable Street (83)

Charter House (41)

Dallas Road (88)

Edward Street (89)

Lodge Street (34)

Lower St Leonardsgate (70)

Lucy Street (19)

Moor Mills 1 (67)  2 (43) and 3 (39)

Nelson Street (120)

Spring Garden Street (19)

St George's Quay (46)

St Nicholas Arcades (277)

Upper St Leonardsgate (133)

Wood Street (14)

Bridget Street

Bulk Street

Windy Hill

The largest car park is Castle with 287 spaces and the smallest is Wood Street with 14.

There is also on-street parking available at Castle Hill, Church Street, Dalton Square, Friar Street, George Street, Quarry Road, Queen Street, High Street, Marton Street, New Road, Penny Street, Phoenix Street, Robert Street and St Mary's Parade; and private parking at Sainsbury's, Lancaster Station, Marketgate, Kingsway Retail Park, Aldi on Aldcliffe Road, Kings Yard and Damside Street.

WHAT IS THE STRATEGY?

Lancaster City Council said its main aims with the strategy are to ensure that:

· Car parks are in the right place, reducing need for vehicle circulation through and around the city centre

· Sufficient parking options are available to service the needs of the evening and cultural economy

· The offer is of a good quality, safe and attractive to customers

· Blue badge holders and those with greater accessibility needs are provided for

· Future sustainable transport strategy and development proposals recognise the continuing and necessary role of car parking availability for the city centre

· The permanent car park offer is fit for the future; particularly for the use of electric vehicles and better accommodates alternative transport modes (cycle parking/car share hubs) and active/low emission travel amenity

The city council said they intended to work closely with Lancashire County Council, the highways and transport authority, to "explicitly integrate the long-term planning, placement, and types of parking facilities into the sustainable travel and transport policy agenda for the city".

“We have listened to the concerns from our business community and residents as well as local arts organisations and we understand their concerns about the long-term parking provision in the city centre," said Councillor Jean Parr (pictured below), Cabinet member with responsibility for transport policy and parking.

“The strategy aims to provide reassurance to both businesses and community stakeholders that the council is able to deliver and manage a sufficient number of parking spaces as well as on its overarching commitment to climate action and other priorities such as the much-needed provision of new homes. 

“Now that the draft Lancaster City Centre Car Parking Strategy and Action Plan has been approved for consultation with statutory and community stakeholders, there will be plenty of opportunities for people to have their say on the content of the strategy before a final version is presented to Cabinet at a future meeting.”

The draft parking strategy can be read here.

WHAT DO RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES THINK?

In November 2023, worried business owners spoke out at a meeting held at Lancaster Grand, about the future of car parking in the city.

Residents and businesspeople said that plans to cut parking spaces in Lancaster could 'kill the city centre'.

Read more: INTERVIEWS: Cutting car parking spaces could 'kill Lancaster city centre' say worried residents - Beyond Radio