Parking Provision Development Management Policy
Why is this policy required?
This policy is required to set out the Council’s approach regarding parking
standards and to enable proposals which do not provide appropriate levels of
parking to be resisted. The NPPF does not mention parking provision directly.
There is however a presumption in favour of promoting sustainable transport.
The NPPF states that the transport system needs to be balanced in favour of
sustainable transport to give people a real choice about how they travel.1
The NPPF does advocate a flexible approach to the promotion of sustainable
modes of transport with the government recognising that different policies and
measures will be required in different communities and localities.2 Paragraph
39 of the NPPF allows for Local Authorities to set their own local parking
standards.
The Nottinghamshire County Council Third Local Transport Plan (LTP3) also
supports the promotion of sustainable modes of transport and advocates the
use of parking restraint as a method of encouraging a shift from car use to
walking, cycling and public transport use.3
Preferred Core Policy 8A – Encouraging Sustainable Transport of the Local
Plan Part 1 outlines a transport hierarchy. All new developments will be
expected to be located and designed so as to maximise the use of modes
from the top of the transport hierarchy (i.e Walking, Cycling, Public Transport).
Further work is required to investigate and set the parking standards for the
district however it is important that, when finalised, the parking standards do
not undermine the transport hierarchy set out in Core Policy 8A. There is
evidence to suggest that restricting parking provision through the use of
maximum parking standards can be effective in encouraging use of
sustainable methods of transport by making car travel less attractive
(especially by restricting parking at non residential developments i.e offices,
cinemas etc.)4
It is also important to ensure that sufficient off street parking is provided at
residential dwellings. A lack of off street parking provided with new residential
development can result in a multitude of problems including highway safety
issues, harm to visual amenity and landscaping, blockages to public transport
and emergency services and neighbour disputes. The Council has previously
used minimum parking standards to ensure that sufficient off road parking is
provided for new development especially residential development as it is
acknowledged that modal shift is a long term process and some parts of the
district are more suited in terms of spatial character to increases in use of
sustainable transport.
1
NPPF Chapter 4 Para 29
NPPF Chapter 4 Para 29
3
Nottinghamshire County Council LTP3 Para 4.1.4
4
Nottinghamshire County Council LTP3 Para 4.1.4
2
Accordingly there is scope to vary parking standards not just by land use but
also by spatial character, with the creation of zones based on density,
proximity to public transport, proximity to services etc such as town centre,
edge of centre/inner suburbs, suburban, village / rural. There is also the
possibility of a mix of maximum and minimum standards based on zone and
land use, for example maximum standards for residential development within
the town centre and edge of centre to promote and encourage the use of
sustainable modes of transport in accordance with Preferred Core Policy 8A,
but minimum parking standards for residential development in more peripheral
zones to ensure that developers provide adequate car parking, in areas where
it is acknowledged that car use will be higher due to the spatial character of
the locality. There is also scope to consider the use of maximum parking
standards for commercial developments in all zones (although with higher
levels of parking permitted in peripheral zones).
What will the policy say?
Development proposals must ensure appropriate provision for vehicle and
cycle parking, including meeting the needs of the disabled, as outlined within
the parking standards guidance contained within appendix X.
Parking provision should ensure
i.
It relates well to the proposed development,
ii.
Is well designed and takes account of the characteristics of the site and the
iii.
iv.
locality.
Provides for a safe and secure environment
Minimises conflict with pedestrians or cyclists
What are the implications of using this policy?
The policy will enable residential proposals which do not provide adequate
parking to be resisted, in locations where insufficient off road parking might be
considered harmful to highway safety etc.
Within central areas with jobs, services and public transport located within
walking distance, the policy will allow for residential proposals to provide less /
no parking. With regard to non residential proposals, the policy can be used
as a tool to encourage modal shift by resisting proposals which do not have
regard to Core Policy 8A and the sustainable transport hierarchy.
A flexible approach to parking standards with parking standards varying by
land use and locality will strike the balance between promoting the
sustainable transport hierarchy in accordance with Core Policy 8A and
ensuring that developers are required to provide a minimum level of off road
car parking in localities where this is considered appropriate.