The controversial construction of 11 properties on Ely’s Barton Road is one step closer, with building due to start next month.
Coaches visiting the city will no longer be able to use the long stay parking spaces near the city centre and will instead be urged to use a new coach parking facility near Witchford.
The first phase of archeological work has been completed, and while no significant items were found during the investigation, the site will continue to be monitored throughout the building work.
“To ensure public safety, some of the car spaces adjacent to Barton Road will remain closed off to the public, though we are seeking to minimise the fenced off spaces,” Phil Rose, head of development at Palace Green Homes, told nearby residents in a letter dated January 3.
In the letter, Mr Rose said the main car park would be reconfigured to create additional car spaces and a new short stay drop off and pick up point would be established for coaches.
Depending on the weather, this is due to be completed by January 22.
Five existing coach parking bays at the front of the site will remain until building contractors start construction of the housing site next month.
“After this point, there will no longer be a long stay coach parking facility at Barton Road.”
Instead coaches would be able to use the new coach parking facility at Lancaster Way Business Park in Witchford.
Last year East Cambridgeshire District Council’s planning committee gave the green light to develop six new homes and five apartments on Barton Road by four votes to two with the chairman abstaining.
The proposal to build housing in this conservation area has proved controversial, with over 150 objections submitted to ECDC.
It was also slated by the City of Ely Council.
The matter was passed onto Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, Sajid Javid, but the decision was shortly after handed back to ECDC, following new government guidelines that give local authorities more powers over local assets.
The development is due to be finished by March 2018.
It is thought the local authority could earn up to £1.75 million from the project which will help towards the cost of the build of the new leisure centre.
