More parking on the way at Shugborough Hall

The Trust, which took control of the site from Staffordshire County Council back in November, has had plans approved by Stafford Borough Council planning bosses to increase all-weather parking at the estate.

Currently the site has a car park with more seasonal grass parking available. But the Trust wants to tarmac over the grass parking meaning the extra parking can be used all year round.

This revamp has been prompted by National Trust chiefs who want to keep the estate open 364 days a year.

Supported

Hayley Mival, the project manager for Shugborough, said the Trust plans to 'significantly increase' visitor numbers, which would be supported by more all-year-round parking.

She said: "Once we reopen Shugborough in March 2017, we plan to significantly increase visitor numbers over the next 10 years. By improving the car parking whilst the estate is closed we can provide better year-round parking facilities, future-proofed for years to come."

"Once Shugborough reopens in March, National Trust members will be able to park for free; as they can do at the other 500 special places the Trust looks after."

Currently the car park has 177 standard spaces, nine disabled spaces, room for 16 coaches and the 176 space seasonal grass parking. After the revamp there will be 285 standard spaces, one electric charge space, 12 larger standard spaces and four coach parking spaces. There will be no seasonal grass parking.

The plans do not change the size of the area used for car parking, meaning none of the Grade I Listed parkland will be lost.

A report prepared by BEA Landscape Design, on behalf of the National Trust, says: "The existing car park layout is to be incorporated into the redevelopment of the car park. Within the existing car park layout the larger areas of grass are to be utilised for parking and re-surfaced.

"The existing 'internal' footpaths are also to be removed and the area used for parking. The grass parking area to the West is to be surfaced and set out along similar principles to the existing car park. The existing coach parking area is to be reduced to four Coaches with the remaining area extended to the East and utilised for car parking. When there are no Coaches booked the whole area will be utilised for car parking.

"The existing tarmac disabled parking area is to be enlarged to accommodate nine full sized disabled spaces to the current British Standards."