Wolverhampton Buddhist temple’s plans for new community hall rejected
A plan by a Buddhist temple to build a new community hall has been rejected by a council over parking.
City of Wolverhampton Council turned down plans by the city’s Ambedkar Buddhist Centre to build the 150 square metre community hall for only including 12 parking spaces to serve as many as 200 people.
The council’s planners said the new community hall, in Upper Zoar Street, Wolverhampton, which would host music performances and rehearsals, sports and fitness sessions as well as social gatherings, celebrations, and community meetings, did not provide enough parking spaces for the proposed 200-capacity venue and would add to parking problems in surrounding streets.
A statement included with the application said: “The proposed hall is intended to serve as a flexible, inclusive space for music, sports, and social events, supporting the temple’s role as a spiritual, cultural, and community hub.”
A report by the council which outlines the objection said: “The proposed multi‑function hall would result in a substantial intensification of activity at the site, both in terms of the number and nature of events taking place.
“The [application] confirms that the facility could accommodate up to 200 people for larger events, representing a significant increase in visitor numbers accessing the site.
“The hall is proposed on land currently used for car parking, thereby reducing on‑site parking capacity.
“At present, the site provides only 12 car parking spaces, and the proposed development would result in the loss of three of these spaces.
“This is of particular concern given that Penn Street is already heavily-subscribed with on‑street parking, and Upper Zoar Street also experiences high parking demand.
“The increased activity associated with the development is likely to lead to additional on‑street parking, with consequent harm to pedestrian safety and the free flow of traffic on the surrounding highway network.
“Furthermore, the applicant indicates that provision for coaches and minibuses is anticipated for group visits, which would exacerbate these impacts.”
