Designs for an 11 home development of six terraced houses and five flats have been submitted to East Cambridgeshire District Council – by East Cambridgeshire District Council.

Ely Standard: Site of proposed new homes for Barton Road car park, ElySite of proposed new homes for Barton Road car park, Ely (Image: Archant)

The council hopes to use part of the Barton Road long stay car park as a site for the homes which currently comprises coach and car parking spaces.

East Cambs Council believes it is a good way of raising extra income through the use of “under utilised land” that they own locally.

Agents on behalf of the council say the aim is to build homes “to a high level of detail and finish and with high environmental standards”.

A report by the council says that a year ago Haysom Ward Miller Architects were commissioned to carry out a study into the options for the proposed development of the site.

The council’s asset development committee “were of the opinion that the current use of the land was not an effective use of council resources and those options for a more efficient use of the site should be explored”.

One part of a wider site is being used to store market stalls and council equipment and officers felt these could be moved elsewhere.

A second area, where the 11 homes are planned, was also targeted as it was felt coaches would in future use a new drop off point in the city and then park further out.

“Furthermore, it was apparent that the parking within all of the car park appeared to be inefficiently arranged and that a more considered layout might free up additional

spaces,” says the report.

“Some of the existing parking spaces are allocated to The Poets House and this allocation was also to be reconsidered as part of the overall reassessment.

“In summary it was hoped that the land could be more used more efficiently for housing without the loss of any parking spaces.”