An innovative bid by East Cambs Council to make a £1.75 million profit on developing part of a city park has been unveiled.

The public will have the chance to see the proposals for Barton Road car park over three days later this week.

The plans will go on show at Ely Library on Thursday from 9.30am to 7pm, on Friday from 9.30am to 5pm and on Saturday from 9.30am to 4pm.

Councillor Bill Hunt said: “We want to encourage local residents to visit the library and have a look at the plans for Barton Road.

“It’s a very exciting development which we believe will benefit the people of the district so we’re keen to ensure as many people see the plans as possible.”

The development would create six 4-bedroom homes and five apartments close to the centre of the city. Changes to the car park would take place in two phases.

Phase one, expected from October to December this year; temporarily increases the public parking provision from 192 spaces to 234.

In phase two there would be 186 public parking spaces. Five temporary coach parking spaces will be available at Lancaster Way Business Park until the leisure complex in Downham Road is complete when they will move there.

Architects HaysomWardMiller has designed the new Barton Road homes and were chosen, says the council, because of their “depth and breadth of experience creating beautiful and appropriate living spaces both in Ely and throughout East Anglia”.

The council says their design for this development “is strongly inspired by the existing, historic architecture found within our city”.

Included in the council’s financial assessment the overall development will include two, one-bedroom starter home apartment and nine open market homes; the starter homes. The starter homes will attract a 20 per cent discount for first time buyers under the age of 40 but subject to Government approval.

The council says funding would also be made available for a further affordable home in either Ely or the surrounding district.

Overall responsibility for the development will come under the council’s own trading company, Palace Green Homes.

The council expects to net £800,000 from land receipts and a further £850,000 from the sale of the homes.