A CAR park in Salisbury’s Cathedral Close could become permanent if plans are approved.

Oakley Planning & Conservation has submitted a planning application to Wiltshire Council on behalf of the Chapter Office for a 0.6 hectare site west of Harnham Gate in Cathedral Close.

Formerly tennis courts, the plot has been used as a car park for visitors to Salisbury Cathedral since 1996, with temporary planning permission.

The latest application aims to make the conversion permanent, as well as installing electric vehicle charging points and covered bicycle parking.

“The provision of a car park in this location sits within the wider plan to move toward more sustainable patterns of travel to the cathedral and close,” the application said.

A new cable from the existing sub-station would be installed to power the EV charging points, it said.

The southern wall of the car park, near the Harnham Gate in Cathedral Close, Salisbury. Picture: Oakley/Wiltshire Council

“The car park provides space for 70 cars, which are used by a mix of cathedral staff and volunteers, as well as by congregation at certain services within the cathedral,” the application said.

“Spaces are also available to visitors to the Cathedral Close, although this is not widely advertised.”

The area is enclosed by part of a grade I-listed “historic Close wall”.

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It added: “Originally tennis courts, the hard-surfaced area has been used as car parking associated with uses within The Close since 1996, and this has previously benefitted from temporary planning consent from the council – the most recent of which has expired.”

The scheme will now be considered by Wiltshire Council planners.

For more details, and to comment on the plans, log on to www.wiltshirecouncil.gov.uk and search for application reference PL/2023/09615.