LATE changes to plans for Barnsley’s multi-storey car park have been approved by councillors after it emerged the original design would create a conflict with a large underground sewer.

That meant reducing the size of the land the building will occupy, but increasing its height from six storeys to 7.5, which will put its highest point on a similar level to a tower which rises above the nearby Alhambra shopping centre car park.

The move will see a three per cent reduction in car parking spaces, but planners described that change as insignificant.

It also means there will be additional land near the Glass Works shopping and leisure complex available for landscaping as the project progresses.

Because the land levels where the car park will be constructed, increasing the height is not regarded as being a cause of harm and councillors on Barnsley Council’s planning board were told issues with the sewer would have been difficult to overcome without changing the design to avoid it.

Councillors approved the scheme.