Buddhist temple's community hall plan refused

A proposal by a Buddhist temple to build a new community hall has been rejected over parking concerns.

Ambedkar Buddhist Centre wanted to build a 150 sq m community hall in Upper Zoar Street, Wolverhampton, with 12 parking spaces to serve as many as 200 people.

Turning down the plans, the City of Wolverhampton Council said the street already experienced high parking demand and nearby Penn Street was also "already heavily-subscribed".

"Furthermore, the applicant indicates that provision for coaches and minibuses is anticipated for group visits, which would exacerbate these impacts," the council said.

A statement included with the planning 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."

But the authority 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 was also proposed on land currently used for parking, which would reduce on‑site parking capacity, it added.

"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."

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.

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