New plan to reduce traffic at Costco store

Plans have been submitted to extend the car park at a popular Derby wholesaler, which could ease the area’s well-known traffic problems.

A planning application has been sent to Derby City Council officers to improve long-standing congestion issues at the city’s Costco store at Pride Park.

The new plans propose extending the current car park by 100 spaces using nearby vacant land.

The new spaces will be used by staff, freeing up more spaces for shoppers.

The bosses of Costco Wholesale UK Limited have submitted the application. The warehouse club has a membership scheme, meaning customers must pay an annual fee to shop there.

A letter to the council by the applicant’s agent states: “The proposal is for an extension to the Costco Wholesale warehouse car park. The extension is exclusively for staff, accommodating 104 spaces.

“The principal reason for the proposal is to provide car parking for Costco staff, thereby freeing up space in the main car park for members, improving capacity and circulation, therefore reducing congestion.”

An additional planning document states: “The proposal has been developed due to the success of the existing Costco business. This has put pressure on the existing car park and has led to congestion in the surrounding area.”

Heavy traffic at the Costco store and surrounding shops and restaurants at Pride Park, opposite the Wyvern Retail Park, has been an issue for some time.

In 2022, councillors called for a “solution” to help end traffic problems near the store, with questions asked about the car park’s layout, when the go-ahead was given for the Tim Horton’s drive-thru restaurant next door.

Councillor Matthew Holmes said at the meeting: “There is congestion, it is a real thing. (The traffic) is a result of mostly people wanting to shop at Costco and we need to solve it. “

Last year it was reported a bus lane next to the store was to be made available for all motorists at certain times as part of an 18-month trial. The plan was to reduce congestion to and from the Costco car park, fuelled by people accessing the store’s petrol station.

Derby City Council could make a final decision on the proposal before Christmas.