Seaside coach park to shut for housing plan survey

A car park used by coaches bringing tourists to a seaside resort is to shut to allow for a survey assessing suitable areas for new housing.

The Beach Coach Station in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, is the main park for buses as well as long-stay car parking.

Great Yarmouth Borough Council (GYBC) is reviewing sites to develop 50 new public sector homes.

A spokesperson said: "Beach Coach Station car park is on the site of former a railway station. This means a number of pits will need to be dug to make sure there are no issues from former tracks, platforms and buildings that might affect any future development."

Visit Great Yarmouth said it hoped the council would provide alternative coach parking spaces if the site was redeveloped.

Beach Coach Station was the terminus of the Midland and Great Northern Railway, sited near the beach and many hotels.

It closed in 1959 and was converted into a coach station and coach park in the 1960s.

But over the past 50 years usage has declined, and the borough council has built two developments.

They included 19 homes called Royal Britannia Crescent in 2012 and Jubilee Court - a development of 18 one-bedroom flats - which was completed in 2023.

Contractors Harrisons Environmental will evaluate ground conditions from 27 January until 14 February.

The council spokesperson added: "'While these investigations take place, it is not safe or practical for the car park to remain open and clear signage is in place.

"We hope the impact on people is limited, but we are sorry for any inconvenience the work might cause."

Alternative parking information can be found on the council's website.

Asa Morrison, chief executive of Visit Great Yarmouth, said the car park had already lost two parts to housing developments in the past few years.

"If you're going to close a car park [for a survey], it's best it happens in the winter months," he said.

"We will be interested in the consultation. Obviously we would prefer to not see a reduction in available parking for our visitors.

"We are also interested to find out more about the council's suggestions to provide alternative parking facilities in particular for coaches as well as visitors.

"Coach holidays play an important part in our overall tourism economy in Great Yarmouth and it is important that coach drivers are able to park within the destination."

The council said if the development was approved, it would aim to provide alternative parking facilities at new, convenient locations for visitors and residents.

Access to Jubilee Court will remain open for residents, and the charging points for electric vehicles will be available for use by the public.

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