A long-speculated move to sell off a large city centre car park in Canterbury is finally set to progress this year, as the council prepares to put the site on the market.

The future of Rosemary Lane car park has been discussed for the best part of 10 years, but now it looks primed to be handed over to housing developers.

It will mean the loss of 96 spaces, which the authority insists can be accommodated by spare capacity in the nearby multi-storey in Castle Street.

Council spokesman Rob Davies said: “Rosemary Lane car park is surplus to requirements and councillors have agreed to sell it.

“There is a large, under-used car park just round the corner in the form of the Castle Street multi-storey, which can accommodate people who wish to park in that area.

“The site is allocated for housing in the current Local Plan and we will begin marketing it for sale later this year.”

He said the car park is currently being used as a storage compound by the contractor working on the repaving scheme in St Margaret’s Street, which is due to be completed in the next few weeks.

As the Conservative-led council looks to sell the site, newly-elected Labour city councillor Pip Hazelton believes it should be turned into social housing.

“I’ve got nothing against closing the car park, and residents I have spoken to all share that view,” she said.

“But the council shouldn’t be selling off the crown jewels to developers who just want to make a profit. We shouldn’t be losing assets.

“It should be retained and turned into social housing. There are more than 2,000 people on the housing list, and this could help with that.”

An initial plan to sell the site was agreed in principle in March 2012 and a preferred developer found after a competitive bidding process but problems with flood risk meant the sale fell through and the disposal was abandoned at the end of 2014.

'It should be retained and turned into social housing...'

Ever since, the car park has remained in its normal state - until last year when it was closed permanently.

It is not yet known how many homes the site can cater for.

Read more: All the latest news from Canterbury