A new car park could be created in Taunton town centre on a prominent site overlooking the river.

L & C Investments Ltd. first applied in November 2021 to build a car park on the former Poundstretcher site off the A3807 Wood Street, preserving work which had been put in place after the store’s demolition.

Somerset West and Taunton Council refused the plans in February 2023, arguing that the car park would result in an “increasing in conflicting traffic movements” on and around Wood Street.

The developer – which is based in Kingswinford near Dudley, in the West Midlands – has now reapplied to the new Somerset Council., claiming that the issues regarding traffic have been resolved.

The Poundstretcher store closed in August 2020 and was demolished in stages between September and November 2021, just before the initial car park plans were submitted.

The car park will be accessed from a new junction off Wood Street, and will be sandwiched between the existing building on the A3027 The Bridge and the Riverain retirement community to the west.

It will include 50 spaces for cars (including two disabled spaces) and a designated area for motorcycles, with a pedestrian access being provided onto The Bridge.

As part of the proposals, the developer intends to restore the footpath along the north bank of the River Tone, with the car park being screened by a timber fence.

A spokesman for D2 Planning (representing the applicant) said: “There are no objections to the proposals from the Environment Agency (EA) in respect of flooding risk.

“The site is identified as a residential site by the council and the car park would represent an acceptable use in the interim while more longer-term development proposals are considered and assessed.

“The proposal will include the reopening of the riverside path which unfortunately cannot be opened until a positive decision on the application can be made.”

The site is included within the Taunton 2040 Vision published by Somerset West and Taunton Council in early-2021, with officials earmarking the site for up to 31 flats along with ground floor commercial space and an improved footpath along the river.

Following the closure of the Goodland Gardens footbridge – which will cost “at least £400,000” to replace – pedestrians wishing to access the north bank have had to use either the River Tone Bridge to the west (using the A3807 Tangier Way) or the Taunton Town Bridge to the east (the A3027).

The council is expected to make a decision on the plans by the summer.