Planning study narrows down options for town centre car parking in Clare

01 Oct 2026

The need for more car parking in Clare town centre has been confirmed but one of its potential sites has now been ruled out by a planning feasibility study.

West Suffolk Council has been working with local partners in Clare to investigate how best to provide around 30 additional parking spaces close to the town centre. A parking survey over the summer confirmed the extra spaces are needed to meet peak demand.

It has already been agreed that a 30-space car park will be included in the new housing planned off Cavendish Road. But partners have told the Council having the extra parking closer to the town centre would still be preferable. The partners are therefore trying to find an alternative before the proposed car park off Cavendish Road needs to be delivered.

One alternative option that has been looked into, and now ruled out, was the potential relocation of the town’s social club, which would then allow for that part of the Station Road site to be converted into car parking. This might have offered all the spaces in one central location.

The recently completed planning study for this site confirmed that, while feasible on most technical grounds, planning rules would also require agreement on a like-for-like replacement of the social club. The Council has therefore decided not to progress this idea at the current time.

The partner organisations will now be invited by the Council to explore the potential for delivering the 30 extra spaces across several sites instead of just one.  

Cllr David Taylor, Cabinet Member for Operations at West Suffolk Council, said: “We want people to continue coming into Clare town centre and supporting the local businesses. The challenge for the council and our town centre partners is how we find and provide those additional parking spaces to meet peak demand and not impact on residential parking.

“We remain committed to tackling this issue and investing to deliver more spaces 
which will further support a thriving Clare town centre.

“I would also like to thank Clare Town Council and Clare Castle Country Park for their continuing support as well as the Social Club who engaged with us while we looked at its possible relocation, and we welcome this continuing dialogue with them as we work collectively to support the needs of the town.”

 

---