An unauthorised car park where Leicester City's former Filbert Street ground once stood has been closed ahead of threatened legal action by the council.
The 220-space car park shut on May 19 as officials at Leicester City Council were preparing to take enforcement action against UK Parking, the firm which ran it.
The closure means it is unlikely there will a drawn-out legal wrangle.
Council officers said the car park had been open since May, 2010. It only had planning permission to operate until October, 2011.
They had told UK Parking to shut the car park by March 20.
The council argued nearby residents had complained about noise and dust, particularly on match days.
They also said the closure of the car park would encourage the landowner to press ahead with a scheme to build 77 terraced homes on the three-acre site rather than keep leasing it to UK Parking.
Castle ward city councillor Patrick Kitterick, who is chairman of the council's planning committee, which will discuss the issue on Wednesday, said: "I am pleased it has closed because the cars were causing dust problems for nearby people when it was dry and making it muddy when it was wet.
"I hope the landowner will now push ahead with the development they have applied for permission for.''
Some residents said they missed the car park.
Angie Beales, of St Andrew's Residents Association, said: "That car park was a help, especially for people going to the hospital and for nurses.
"When the football season starts again, fans will miss it, too.
"I don't see why they weren't allowed to keep running it as a car park until the developer was ready to build the houses."
One resident from Filbert Street, who asked not to be named, said: "The dust wasn't nice but I think the council is more concerned about shutting rivals to its own car parks so it doesn't lose money."
The Mercury contacted consultants Roger Tym and Partners, acting for UK Parking, for comment but nobody responded.
Developer Filbert Ltd's application to build homes on the site is still being considered by the council.
