Car auction storage plan for railway siding

British Car Auctions (BCA), which owns the site at the rear of Bessemer Close, Coseley, has applied to the city council for a change in use of the land.

The area was first developed as a car auction site by Scottish Motor Auctions nine years ago before being bought out by BCA. Prior to that it was derelict.

At present BCA uses the land for staff parking and some car storage, and has been leasing an adjacent 1.5 acre site to accommodate customers.

The firm has been operating a park and ride scheme from this site to its main lot. However, this has proved unpopular with customers and has also led to traffic problems with people parking on grass verges along the Black Country Route.

In a design statement submitted alongside the plans, Richard Taylor of Wolverhampton-based ACP Architects said: “The original approved parking scheme for the BCA site had designated parking for 206 spaces for customers at the front of the BCA site.

“Options to purchase land adjacent to BCA’s current site have been explored. A suitable site has been identified on the opposite side of the Black Country Route (A463).

“This land is owned by Network Rail, who have been approached and are happy to relinquish ownership.

“A hard standing will be formed parallel to the railway track, and the car park will remain at much the same level as the existing ground level below the level of the track. The site will be secured on all four sides by security fencing,” added the statement.

“BCA currently employs approximately 135 people at the Bessemer Close site. The acquisition of much-needed car storage will not only retain employment but will add a further 20 to 30 staff.”

The company has a number of other sites in the UK including Walsall, Birmingham, Bedford, Blackbush, Brighouse, Derby, Preston, Peterborough, Manchester, Measham, Nottingham, Edinburgh and Glasgow. The Coseley site is one of their most successful.

Wolverhampton Council planners are set to decide on the application in the near future.