Two car parks at Meadowside Leisure Centre are set for revamps due to the proposed £20 million Bargates development, it has been revealed.

New drawings submitted along with the application show the leisure centre's larger car park, located off Meadowside Drive, will move towards High Street when its current site is swallowed up by housing and shops.

The larger car park will lose a total of 63 spaces, with a reduction of 153 spaces to 90.

However, plans also show that the car park fronting the leisure centre is set to increase from 45 spaces to 51.

It means there will be a total of 141 spaces for the leisure centre in both car parks, with a loss of 38 spaces in total.

It will also mean the loss of 32 spaces as the original Bargates shopping centre car park off High Street will be levelled.

A close up showing the location of the car parks

In a report to the council, the applicant Jessup Build Develop said: "A requirement is that car parking provision is included for the Meadowside Leisure Centre to compensate for the loss of the existing Council pay-and-display car parking on the site.

While this provision will be part of the planning application for the redevelopment of the site the land for the car parking will be retained by the council.

The development planned for Bargates

"A total of 141 car parking spaces are provided for the leisure centre, with 51 immediately adjacent to the centre including 11 disabled spaces plus and 90 spaces provided opposite. This larger car park also includes a retained electricity sub-station and well house, with access to both from within the car park."

New masterplan shows the location of the Meadowside Leisure Centre car parks

The Burton Mail previously revealed that the seven-acre Bargates site off High Street, Burton, could be turned into 140 homes comprising 72 sheltered apartments, 24 private apartments and 44 houses including two shops and construction of vehicular access. The long-awaited planning application was finally submitted to East Staffordshire Borough Council.

The masterplan also shows the location of a public realm which will boast views across the Trent and will provide a performance space for impromptu art performances on the Washlands, accessed via a pedestrian boulevard linked to the existing pedestrian crossing in High Street.

This section of the development also includes a café area that can be used by residents and members of the public, with internal and external seating areas and views across the River Trent Washlands.

The scheme is set to cost £20 million

It was previously revealed in September 2016 that the council had formally announced plans for a care home, housing, shops and restaurant.

Cannock-based Jessup Build Develop in Cannock will buy the land from the council if it is granted permission by the planning committee. A decision is due to made in the next few months.

Bargates, the former shopping centre, was demolished alongside the bowling alley, in 2011, to make way for a Tesco superstore which was later ditched after permission was refused.

Time Line

Burton's Bargates

  1. MARCH 2004

    Council admits the Riverside Leisure Centre, known as Bargates, had become an embarrassment with just a few units open, including Superbowl 200 which still had 14 years on its lease and had 'no desire to move'.

  2. SEPTEMBER 2004

    The council reveals a cafe quarter plan for Bargates with accommodation, bars, cafe and a hotel.

  3. MAY 2005

    The Mail exclusively reveals that the council has lined up a deal with Tesco, which would see Bargates turned into a giant Tesco Extra store. The deal in principle included Tesco paying the council £8 million towards the cost of a new leisure centre to replace the Meadowside, which would have been demolished under the plans.

  4. AUGUST 2007

    One of the last remaining units on Riverside, Indian restaurant Manzil, moves to the former Ocean nightclub, off Guild Street, where it remains to this day.

  5. AUGUST 19, 2007

    Superbowl 2000 closes to make way for the Tesco development. At the time Superbowl owner Jerry Hodges said he was keen to relocate and was looking for a site in Burton.

  6. DECEMBER 2007

    The council pulls out of a deal with Tesco to demolish the neighbouring Meadownside Leisure Centre due to sky-rocketing costs. An application for the Riverside Centre is still expected to be submitted.

  7. FEBRUARY 2008

    Arsonists strike at former Superbowl 2000.

  8. NOVEMBER 2008

    A Tesco plan to build nine glass-fronted retail units on the site is unanimously rejected by council planners after the scheme is branded as "unimaginative".

  9. DECEMBER 1, 2009

    Three options are listed for Bargates' future: a residential-led redevelopment, a retail-led redevelopment or a mixture of both.

  10. MAY 30, 2010

    Tesco indicates a willingness to relinquish the site and move to the former Condor site, which never came to fruition. Proposals are put forward for a mix of retail, office and residential buildings, including a hotel overlooking the River Trent.

  11. JUNE 3, 2010

    Tesco installs large wooden boards to screen the eyesore from public view.

  12. JUNE 15, 2010

    East Staffordshire Borough Council announces its intention to appoint a developer by the end of 2010.

  13. SEPTEMBER 21, 2010

    Tesco's board of directors agrees the sale of the site to East Staffordshire Borough Council for £4 million.

  14. APRIL 12, 2011

    Meanwhile, Tesco is given permission for a superstore in Hawkins Lane. This plan never came to fruition after financial difficulties led Tesco to put the site up for sale.

  15. FEBRUARY 2, 2012

    Demolition begins at the Bargates site.

  16. MAY 28, 2012

    The council announces Bargates will be turned into a 'village green'.

  17. JULY 4 2012

    The council puts up 'The Bargates Job' on the site.

  18. FEBRUARY 21, 2013

    The council announces it has full ownership of Bargates and it is up for sale – maintaining the preferred mixed use option in a bid to attract developers.

  19. JULY 15, 2014

    Councillors reveal plans to spend part of a £1.5 million grant on making Bargates more attractive. It came after work started to improve the appearance of shops opposite, to show the authority was keen to regenerate High Street.

  20. MAY 2015

    Councillor Richard Grosvenor, leader of East Staffordshire Borough Council, said the authority was hoping to work in partnership with other agencies to bring sheltered housing to the site.

  21. JANUARY 2016

    A major developer is in talks to buy Bargates but discussions break down in March.

  22. AUGUST 2016

    Contractors were spotted drilling on the site to ascertain the site's development costs.

  23. SEPTEMBER 2016

    It is revealed a deal has been struck for offices and extra-care facilities on Bargates.

  24. AUGUST 2017

    Developer Jessup Build Develop reveals a planning application could be submitted in September.

  25. December 2017

    Jessup Build Develop submit planning application to East Staffordshire Borough Council

  26. January 2018

    Jessup Build Develop hold public consultation at Meadowside Leisure Centre. Burton Civic Society formally objects to the proposals

  27. February 2018

    The consultation period ends and objections submitted by Burton Parish Council and Burton Bridge Brewery are revealed.

  28. January 2019

    Amended plans to the original application are submitted, which includes increasing car parking and reducing the amount of homes and trees on site