Construction is about to begin on the ramp which will lead to the 200-space underground car park beneath the new public square in the arc development of the cattle market site in Bury St Edmunds. Taylor Woodrow Construction will start work on Tuesday, 28 August. The hoardings around the existing site will need to be extended towards Parkway while work takes place.
Cllr John Griffiths, St Edmundsbury Borough Council’s Leader, said:
“Widespread consultation before final plans were approved revealed that an underground car park was one of the things people were keen to see included on the old cattle market site. This is now being achieved and, while its construction will inevitably involve some temporary inconvenience, contractors will seek to keep this to a minimum and I am confident that the end result will be well worth it.
“The start of construction on this underground car park marks another major step forward in the realisation of this long awaited and fascinating redevelopment which remains on target for an opening in early 2009.”
Ivan Stephenson, of Centros Miller, said:
“The car park will be below the public square in the centre of the development. It will be secure and well-lit and will enable people to park extremely close to all the shops in the town centre if they wish”
Turnover of spaces at the Cattle Market Car Park, off Parkway, has been constant since it became short stay last year, meaning there are always spaces available apart from occasional peak times. The new Vehicle Messaging System (VMS) also helps to direct drivers to available spaces, and this will be even more valuable as work starts on the underground car park. On every Saturday in December, St Edmundsbury will again run a seasonal park and ride service to help ease pressure on parking spaces at the annual peak.
Once complete, the development on the cattle market site will have 850 car parking spaces, a Debenhams department store, a multi-purpose public venue, 35 new shops and 62 residential apartments.
ENDS
ISSUED BY LIZ HEARNSHAW, COMMUNICATIONS UNIT, ST EDMUNDSBURY BOROUGH COUNCIL. Tel 01284 757033. liz.hearnshaw@stedsbc.gov.uk
Centros Miller contact: STEVE BRYSON. Tel 07970 639 301. Steve.Bryson@halogenuk.com
