Issue - meetings

Cabinet Member: Transport

Forward Plan Ref: 2010/156

Contact: David Groves, Transport Development Control Manager Tel: (01865) 816042

Report by Head of Highways & Transport (CA11).

The current car parking standards for the County Council were approved by the Executive Committee in 2001. The parking standards of the District Councils are based on these standards.

In recent years there continues to be feeling amongst the public and Local Authority Members of the various levels of local government that there is insufficient parking provided in new residential developments.

In response to these views the County Council and District Councils jointly commissioned consultants to look at the car ownership in new developments. This report showed distinctive habitual patterns of modern parking habits in residential developments. A draft proposal was created based on a matrix approach to parking provision. This proposal was discussed with all of the District Councils in the County and refined into a form which was acceptable. The proposal is based on developing a series of parking provision regimes which is a mix of 'on-plot' and on street parking. It optimises the level of parking needed according to housing type and location within the built environment.

In the past year there have also been changes in the way new developments are assessed and designed from a Highway Authority point of view. Hence a review of the Councils Development Management design guidance and policies are needed. This document forms part of a future coherent suite of documents. Other documents within the suite of documents which are planned will deal with retail, commercial, and cycle parking.

The primary use of the document is to inform the shaping of new residential developments through the consultation process of planning applications. In its current form it has limited status within the wider planning process. The document has been subjected to a consultation process with all of the District Councils. It requires to be adopted at a higher level within the Council. A further wider consultation process is needed after which formal adoption by the Council will be required.

Cabinet is being asked to accept the content and principles of the document, and authorise a wider consultation process.

The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to endorse the principle of applying parking standards for new residential developments as set out in the draft document, and to agree to a formal consultation period. Allowing for minor amendments according to the consultation, Cabinet will meet again to fully endorse the use of the policy. Cabinet is also asked to empower officers to start using the principle of this emerging policy where the Planning Authority and the developer are in agreement.

Councillor Anne Purse, Shadow Cabinet Member for Growth & Infrastructure commented that it was not a question of one size fits all. She highlighted issues on modern estates and in Wheatley where there was parking by non residents.

During discussion Cabinet Members highlighted individual issues of which they were aware. Cabinet Members commented that they would be responding as local members and expressed the general view that the standard should reflect reality and not a utopian vision of reduced car use.

RESOLVED:             to:

(a)       endorse the principle of applying parking standards for new residential developments as set out in the draft document, subject to (b) belowand to agree to a formal consultation period: allowing for minor amendments according to the consultation, to note Cabinet will meet again to fully endorse the use of the policy and to empower officers to start using the principle of this emerging policy where the Planning Authority and the developer are in agreement; and

(b)       to agree that following the Cabinet debate the authority to make any minor changes to the text of the consultation paper be delegated to the Deputy Director - Highways and Transport in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Growth and Infrastructure.