APPENDIX 5 CAR PARKING STANDARDS

The current parking standards for the borough of Warrington are derived from the following current national and regional policies on parking for new developments:

• Regional Planning Guidance for the North West (now RSS)
• Draft PPG13: Transport
• PPG3: Housing

1. General Requirements

This appendix sets out parking standards together with guidance for their application within the borough, in the context of the emerging policies of the UDP and in particular policy LUT20.

2. Maximum Standards

Car parking standards have traditionally been minimum standards to ensure that adequate off-street parking has been available to cater for the expected use. Maximum standards are being introduced to encourage the use of other modes of transport and reduce car use, and their application will limit development sites to operational levels of car parking. Developers will not be permitted to provide more spaces than the specified maxima or required to provide more spaces that they themselves wish, other than in exceptional circumstances, for example where there are significant implications for road safety which can not be resolved through the introduction or enforcement of on street parking controls.

The maximum car parking standards are consistent with the standards contained in PPG13, RPG (now RSS) and PPG3.

3. Town Centre, District, Local and Neighbourhood Centres

The maximum standards will apply not only in town centres but in all areas of the borough. This will provide a consistent approach and not encourage development in peripheral locations. The shared use of parking and the availability of existing public car parking will normally be required to be taken into account in town and other centres so as to reduce the total space taken up by parking in new developments. It is expected that these areas will be served by a good level of public transport and parking provision well within the maximum standard will normally be expected.

4. Residential Developments

It is considered appropriate to clearly state the level of car parking that will normally be required for residential development, rather than a simple maximum, as it is recognised that dwellings require some degree of off street parking to keep on street parking to an acceptable level. The standards will still apply to all residential development although in areas such as the town centre; district, local and neighbourhood centres; or along public transport corridors; parking for residential development may not be required. Additionally, should alternative availability of parking exist both on and off street in the locality of the development, these factors can be taken into account in the assessment of any particular scheme.

5. Changes of Use

Where applications are received for changes of use or extensions to existing developments, the required parking provision should be calculated to include all the existing on site provision. It is expected that in many instances this could result in no extra parking spaces being required as a result of the change of use.

6. Disabled Parking

In order to ensure an adequate supply of disabled parking the required provision will normally be 5% of the maximum standards for a development, regardless of the actual total provision within the site.

7. Parking For Service Vehicles.

Other than for B2 and B8 uses for which the required level of parking for Heavy Goods Vehicles is set out below, the provision of spaces for goods vehicles to load and unload will be assessed for each development proposal on its merits. It is essential to make adequate provision to ensure that servicing can be accommodated without detriment to the safety of other road users, or the free flow of all-modes of transport on main transport routes. Car Sales/Showrooms will normally be expected to ensure that deliveries by car transporters can be accommodated within the site, clear of the public highway.

8. Other Complementary Measures

The provision of parking for new developments, or change in use, is only one element of managing travel demand. Complementary measures including improvements to pedestrian, cycle and public transport provision, implementing traffic management measures and developing Green Travel Plans for significant developments will also need to be considered. Developers will be encouraged for example to reserve 10% of parking spaces for car sharers as part of a Green Travel Plan.

The following car parking standards are derived from RPG (now RSS):-

* Cycle parking must be convenient and secure and the provision of changing facilities within the development must be identified.

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