In-demand temporary hospital car park made permanent

A temporary car park in Lincoln has been made permanent to deal with demand around the hospital and prison. The gravel pay-and-display car park in Greetwell Road which is owned by HMP Lincoln has been open since 2017.

The area has historically struggled with parking for staff at Lincoln County Hospital. City of Lincoln Council has granted Watch This Space Property Development Ltd permission to operate the 192-space car park indefinitely.

Improvements will be carried out from next summer, including a new tarmac entrance, 24 solar-powered lights and resurfacing. The operators have also contributed to programmes aimed at reducing re-offending by Lincolnshire Action Trust, and reduced the prison's financial pressure.

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Planning documents say: “There is a defined need for this car park on a permanent basis, and supporting letters from HM Prison Lincoln and Lincolnshire Action Trust support this. The high levels of daily demand also provide justification to support the proposal for full planning permission.

“A programme of hospital expansion has resulted in a lack of hospital car parking spaces which this site currently supports.” Lincolnshire Action Trust wrote in support of the decision.

It said: “Whilst the development of this car park provision benefits United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust through provision of much needed parking space for staff, importantly for LAT, the provision generates essential revenue that we invest in services for prisoners and their families at HMP Lincoln. Without this income, we could not fund these services, meaning reducing re-offending interventions would not be delivered.”