Suffolk Food Hall, near Ipswich, plans to create overspill car park for traffic during peak times

A new overspill car park could be created at a food hall near Ipswich.

Suffolk Food Hall, in Wherstead, hopes converting a field north of its site will help it manage current volumes of traffic during events and peak times.

If approved, the site, located near an existing car park, could have a capacity for 182 cars plus two coaches.

The surface of the car park would consist of a mix of grass and concrete, which the applicant hoped would reduce runoff and allow water to drain through.

Planning documents said the applicant does not expect a significant increase in vehicle movements due to the new car park.

In a letter sent to Babergh District Council, Suffolk County Council’s archaeological service believed there would be little impact on archaeological sites or areas with archaeological potential and did not object to the plans.

Planning documents said: “The additional parking area is required to provide a more effective way of managing current vehicle levels at peak times. This will be particularly relevant for special events that attract more significant visitor numbers than the regular site use.

“When these events occur, additional parking is usually provided on the grassland northeast of the main building. The overflow area has been chosen because it is an underutilised space in the applicant's control and adjacent to the existing car parking area.

“It will offer a more discreet alternative to provide additional parking and prevent the need for vehicles at event times to be parked effectively at the ‘front’ of the site (other than exceptional circumstances), which has a more detrimental visual impact in the broader landscape.”

The plans have the support of both the parish council and district councillor, the applicant said.