Work set to start on locals-only car park to boost shopping in New Forest village
WORK on a car park to ease congestion in Beaulieu High Street and throw a lifeline to local shops is set to begin in earnest ahead of the spring tourist season.
It is hoped the 25-space car park planned by the Beaulieu Estate for land off the High Street, opposite Fairweathers Garden Centre, will be completed by the end of April and ease on-street parking pressures.
A spokesperson for the estate said: “As soon as the final archaeological methodology is agreed, we are posed to start work.
“Everything is in place and ready to go, as we would very much like to get the car park completed in time for the tourist season.”
She added: “This is great news for the village, and from our point of view the main priority is to get this car park finished so we can really help the shopkeepers and traders to get through what has been a very difficult time for everyone.”
Once the car park is finished it is anticipated the parish council will apply to Hampshire County Council to have High Street waiting times shortened to increase turnover of spaces and benefit shopkeepers.
The car park, which was approved by the national park authority in 2018, is intended for use solely by residents and traders.
The Beaulieu Estate only gave the project the green light to proceed as one half of a scheme which includes two key worker homes at Harlicks Hill in Hatchett Lane. Those received permission from the NPA last week after several years of planning wrangles.
The estate had said that if it was allowed to build those properties, it would give up plans for a four-bedroom house and garage on the site allocated for parking, and build the car spaces for the village instead.
However, because Harlick’s Hill is located outside the defined village of Beaulieu, development is only permitted under very special circumstances, such as to provide affordable housing for commoners or agricultural and estate workers.
Difficulties led to the first housing application there being withdrawn in December 2019, and the second was not submitted until February 2020. However, it has now been formally approved by the NPA following the completion of planning agreements.
A report from NPA planning officer Clare Ings explained: “The two cottages, the subject of this application, would house the maintenance foreman and the Palace House collections curator, both considered to be key estate workers.
“It is quite clear that there is limited accommodation within the estate, and there are no suitable buildings for conversion.”
