New long stay car park to open in North Devon next month

A new long stay car park at Seven Brethren in Barnstaple is set to open on Monday, 13 January 2025, with the current long stay site closing on the same day.

The new car park, located between Tarka Leisure Centre's football pitches and the recycling centre, will provide 340 parking spaces and will also serve as the venue for Barnstaple Fair every September.

For those with long stay permits, there is no need to take action before using the new site, as permits will transfer over automatically. 

RingGo users will also be able to continue parking using the same location code, 3612.

The new car park has been constructed by local contractor SEL Clarke, using soil and stone from the demolition of the former North Devon Leisure Centre. It also includes a traveller toleration site with amenities at the rear of the car park.

The car park is part of the wider regeneration of the Seven Brethren area, which includes plans for new homes and flood defences. 

The project has been delivered in partnership with Tarka Living Limited.

Councillor Malcolm Prowse, Lead Member for Economic Development and Regeneration at North Devon Council, said: "I'm delighted that the new Seven Brethren long stay will soon be open, providing a cost-effective long stay option for those working in or visiting Barnstaple, and providing a new home for the fair when it comes to town every September. Our thanks go to SEL Clarke for their hard work in delivering this facility, which is one part of the Seven Brethren regeneration. We look forward to working with Tarka Leisure Limited to realise the wider scheme."

The council received a £2.2m grant from the government’s Land Release Fund in 2019 to help unlock land for residential development as part of the Seven Brethren regeneration project.