Queen Street car park set for temporary closure amid Barnstaple revamp

Barnstaple's ongoing transformation continues as Queen Street car park will temporarily shut on Tuesday, May 7, to make way for the next phase of improvements under the ambitious "Market Quarter" project. 

Local firm Mac Plant Ltd will spearhead the redevelopment, promising enhanced facilities and aesthetic upgrades upon completion.

Expected to remain closed until autumn, the closure of Queen Street car park will see the nearby Bear Street car park assume its role, ensuring continued convenience for visitors and shoppers. 

Once Queen Street reopens, Bear Street will then undergo its own temporary closure to facilitate the final stages of the project.

The scope of improvements outlined for Queen Street car park is extensive.

Key features include a new vehicular access point from Alexandra Road, a revamped layout with upgraded surfacing, and the integration of new lighting and landscaping elements. Pedestrian pathways connecting to Boutport Street, Queens Walk, and Bear Street will also receive significant upgrades, promising improved accessibility and connectivity within the town centre.

The car park renovations run in tandem with the broader redevelopment efforts focused on 36-7 Boutport Street.

These properties, acquired by the North Devon Council in 2021, are set to undergo extensive refurbishment to serve both community and commercial interests. 

While 36 Boutport Street is slated to become a vibrant cultural hub, 37 will see the construction of new housing and employment units centred around a communal arcade walkway linking Queen Street car park to the town centre.

Speaking on behalf of the North Devon Council, Councillor Malcolm Prowse, Lead Member for Economic Development and Regeneration said: "After lots of planning, we are now ready to start works to improve the car park alongside the Boutport Street redevelopment. This is an important step in the Market Quarter project and will bring huge improvements to the town centre. Some of the central new features are the incorporation of a new arcade walk-way between the current car park and the town centre, as well as better access to Bear Street via Queens Walk, improving access to the town.

"Projects of this size, duration and nature will inevitably cause some inconvenience to users of the car park, surrounding occupiers and businesses. However, we are carrying out the work in phases to ensure car parking is available at Bear Street during the first phase, which will keep disruption to a minimum. Ultimately, we strongly believe that the creation of a much-improved car park to serve Bear Street, Boutport Street and the town centre, as well as the redevelopment of a historic derelict site in the heart of the town centre, will be well worth the temporary inconvenience."