Extension approved for Sunderland seafront car park at Marine Walk

Earlier this year, Sunderland City Council lodged an application with its own planning department for the Marine Walk Car Park in Roker.

This included extending the car park into the grass embankment and installing a new timber retaining wall.

It aimed to add an extra 23 parking bays to help ease parking pressures in the area.

A report by planners said the benefits of the proposal would outweigh the loss of open space.

This included “alleviating unauthorised parking” and the “wider benefits of encouraging more people to enjoy the seafront.”

The council’s Planning and Highways (East) Committee discussed the plans at a virtual meeting on November 20.

Planners confirmed the car park extension would provide spaces for ‘standard-sized’ vehicles.

In response to a question from councillor Denny Wilson about provision for larger mini buses at the car park, planners added the design could potentially be amended in the future to accommodate larger vehicles.

However, this would require a further planning application and potential changes to the access.

Councillor James Doyle also asked if there was any “guarantee” that unauthorised parking wouldn’t continue if the car park extension was approved.

Planning officer, Ian Birkett, responded: “I think when we look at these applications we have to assume that all of the controls will work as they should and there’s certainly double yellow lines running along Pier View towards the car park.

“We couldn’t say there will never be unauthorised parking in the area but there are parking controls and you would hope or expect that with improved off-street parking provision, you would get less unauthorised parking.”

Meanwhile, councillor Steven Bewick asked about the reasoning behind the Marine Walk Car Park extension when there is another car park “50 yards further down the road.”

Councillors were told that the council highway authority’s support for the extension showed there was evidence that extra parking was needed.

Assistant director of infrastructure, planning and transportation for the council, Mark Jackson, also confirmed the Marine Walk Car Park extension would be a paid car park in line with other provision along the seafront.

He added: “I think this year probably has highlighted at times where there is a lack of provision for car parking in the area.

“So the additional car parking will certainly add to that provision and allow people to experience the facilities and amenities in more comfort without having to drive around looking for spaces at busy times.”

A design, access and heritage statement submitted earlier this year said that the “surrounding highway network will be able to accommodate any additional traffic caused by [the] extension.”

Following debate, the plans were passed with unanimous support.

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