Sandwell Local Plan - Reg 19 Publication

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APPENDIX K - Transportation Policy

Sandwell Parking Standards

Purpose of this Statement

The purpose of this work is to ensure future developments provide sufficient parking that will not result in on-street parking congestion to the detriment of the safe and efficient operation of the public highway and the amenity of the surrounding residential community. In implementing this approach, there must be a balance so that there is not an overprovision of parking that would result in the inefficient use of land or discourage sustainable travel choices. Public safety will also be at the centre of the parking consideration.

Tables 1 and 2 of this appendix set out the appropriate levels of parking for residential and non-residential developments, to inform discussions between Highway Engineers and Planning Officers. However, local sustainability factors may allow for a reduction in off-street parking requirements, but this will require transport, accessibility and parking assessments to be undertaken and for robust evidence to be provided that any proposed reductions would not unduly affect, or be to the detriment of, the safe and efficient operation of the surrounding highway network.

Regardless of whether developments achieve the required parking standards or not, the Council will not be able to support developments that may give rise to road safety issues, or which may have a detrimental impact on the free flow of the highway network or be considered to potentially cause severe residential amenity issues.

A balance has to be struck between encouraging new development and investment, against providing adequate parking levels, potential increased traffic congestion and community amenity issues.

Transport, Accessibility & Parking Assessments (TAPA's)

The information provided in transport related assessments helps to clarify the impact of any development on the Highway Network. The site's impact, sustainability, accessibility and safety will be assessed using the TAPA's (see Appendix 4). Sites that benefit from closely located public transport facilities, cycle routes and other useful facilities that encourage linked trips will be assessed to have a higher degree of accessibility and sustainability.

This assessment may be used to help justify a reduction in the parking requirements through discussion with the Local Authority, coupled with robust evidence that any reductions in required parking standards would not have a detrimental effect on the operation and safety of the surrounding network.

It is noted that the extent of detail required by the TAPA's may not be known in the case of outline planning applications. As such, it is accepted that consideration will be given to the information which is available at outline application stage and be conditioned to ensure all the information is provided at full application stage.

Residential Parking Standards for Housing

The council recognises that ensuring the right amount of parking provision in the right location and of the right size is essential in the creation of new residential developments, both in terms of layout and design highway safety and future amenity and access. The following standards have been derived from extensive practice, evidence gathering, benchmarking and feedback from previous schemes.

Developments that are considered to result in on-street parking that would create or exacerbate issues of highway safety will not be supported.

The council may consider reduced off street parking provision in highly sustainable locations based on local sustainability and access assessments, evidence from local surveys and census data published by the Office of National Statistics.

Visitor Parking for Residential Properties

On all housing schemes developers will be expected to provide additional space for visitor parking at a ratio of one space per three dwellings for developments of less than ten properties, and one space per four dwellings for developments of ten or more properties. On-street visitor parking provision may be considered appropriate if the local road network design allows for on-street parking without causing any detriment to capacity or safety.

Houses of Multiple Occupation (HMO)

For houses of multiple occupancy, (HMO), one off-street space per two beds will be required within the curtilage of the site. However, reductions in parking provision in agreed highly sustainable locations may be considered.

Garages

For garages to be considered as practical parking spaces they should have minimum internal dimensions of 2.8m x 6m. Garages used to satisfy off street parking requirements will be conditioned to be retained as such, by removing development rights to convert them into a habitable room.

Innovative use of design solutions

Car parking provision can be provided in a variety of ways and can help create attractive and safe streets. Positive consideration will be given to innovative design solutions that deliver parking requirements safely and in the context of well-designed layouts.

Table 1: Minimum Parking Standards for Residential Uses

Residential Dwellings
one to two bedrooms	one dedicated space
three to four bedrooms	two dedicated spaces
five to six bedrooms	three dedicated spaces
seven to eight bedrooms	four dedicated spaces
Visitor spaces – development less than ten dwellings	one space per three dwellings
Visitor spaces – development of ten or more dwellings	one space per four dwellings

Non-Residential Parking Standards

Baseline Parking Standards

Baseline parking standards are set out in Table 2 below. These maximum standards can be applied to smaller developments or used as a basis to calculate a reduced maximum standard for larger developments located in accessible areas.

Table 2: Maximum Parking Standards for Non-Residential Uses

(Table 2 will be applied to the total floor area on all applications including change of use applications)

Use Class	Description	Baseline Parking Level Parking Standard per m²
Class B – Businesses that primarily serve people
B2	General industry (office components to be assessed as Class E use)	1:50
B8	Distribution and warehouse (office components to be assessed as Class E use)	Up to 250m²- 1:50 251m²-1250m²- 1:100 Over 1250m²- 1:200
Class C – Locations where people sleep
C1	Hotels and guest houses (bar / restaurant to be assessed as sui generis and Class E uses)	one space per bedroom one space per member of staff
C2	Residential institutions	Residents: one space per four bedrooms. Staff: one manager's space and one space per three FTE other staff
C2a	Secure residential institutions
C4	Houses in multiple occupation incl. large HMO	one per two beds
Class E - Commercial, Business and Service Users
E	Medical facilities, clinics, health centres, creches, day nurseries, day centre	one space per member of staff two spaces per treatment room
E	Hospitals	one space per member of staff one space per three visitors
E	Food retail (other than those shops that fall under Class F2)	1:14
E	Non-food retail (other than those shops that fall under Class F2)	1:20
E	Offices	1:30
E	Restaurants and cafes	1:10
E	Research and development	1:30
E	Industrial processes that can be carried out in a residential area	1:30
E	Gymnasiums and indoor recreations not involving motorised vehicles or firearms or those that fall under F2	1:22
Class F1 - Learning and Non-Residential Institutions
F1	Further education establishments and training centres	one space per member of staff one space per 15 students
F1	Primary, secondary and special schools	one space per member of staff (FTE)
F1	Museums, public libraries, public halls, exhibition halls, law courts	1:30
F1	Places of worship	1:5
Class F2 - Local Community Uses
F2	Shop not more than 280mtwo mostly selling essential goods, including food and at least 1km from another similar shop	1:14
F2	Indoor or outdoor swimming baths, skating rinks, and outdoor sports or recreations not involving motorised vehicles or firearms	1:22
F2	Stadia	one space per 15 seats (Note: coach parking should be agreed with SMBC and treated separately to car parking)
F2	Hall or meeting place for the principal use of the local community	1:30
Class Sui Generis – Locations that are unique in themselves
Sui Generis	Drinking establishments	1:8
Sui Generis	Hot food takeaway	1:20
Sui Generis	Cinemas, concert halls and conference facilities	one space per five seats
Sui Generis	Public transport interchanges, metro stops, railway stations	Discuss with SMBC
Sui Generis	Theatres, large HMOs, hostels, petrol filling stations, vehicle sales, scrap yards, retail warehouse clubs, night clubs, laundrettes, taxi / PHV business, amusement arcades, casinos, funfairs, waste disposal facilities	Discuss with SMBC

Developments in Town Centres

Parking requirements for developments in town centres should be assessed by baseline standards, through TAPAs to give guidance as to the potential reduction in maximum standards and impact on the Highway Network. Appropriate development in town centres coupled with sustainable travel choices creates the opportunity for linked trips and more efficient land use. Existing and proposed transport infrastructure and proposed developments within the plan period for each centre will guide the decision-making process to determine the allowable minimum parking requirements for each successive development in a town centre.

Parking standards will be determined based on local need and circumstances. The flexibility of any potential acceptable parking reduction will depend on the distance of the development from the core of the town centre. For instance, a proposed development on a town centre boundary may be considered differently to the same development proposed in the core of the centre, taking into consideration other factors such as how much parking is currently available in the surrounding area.

The quantum of parking available in each town centre will be monitored and the required parking standard may vary over time for similar developments in similar locations dependent on improvements to sustainable infrastructure and modal shift evidence or saturation of existing parking infrastructure in the centres.

Minimum Parking Standards for People with Disabilities

Parking for people with disabilities is an important consideration. Guidance on the design and location of parking for people with disabilities can be found in the Department of Transport (DfT) leaflet 5/95 (April 1995), DfT report 'Inclusive Mobility' and BS8300:2009.

Residential Developments

Disabled parking bays are required as a percentage of the total off-plot communal parking provision in new residential developments. For smaller developments with up to ten off-plot communal spaces, at least one space should be provided as a widened bay and for all other developments 5% of the parking allocation should be designed as disabled parking bays.

Non-Residential Developments

The minimum parking standard for non-residential developments is a percentage of the baseline maximum standard as shown in Table 3 below. Parking for disabled people should be additional to the maximum vehicle parking standards for non-residential development.

For smaller non-residential developments with parking up to ten spaces, at least one parking bay should be designated to accommodate disabled people. For developments up to 20 spaces one wider space and one marked disabled bay should be provided.

Generally, for shopping, recreation and leisure facilities 6% of the total parking provision should be in the form of marked bays with 4% as widened bays. All other uses will be 5% marked and 5% widened bays.

Parking spaces for people with disabilities should be created within 50m of the main entrance of the destination so that a round trip of no more than 100m has to be made. Provision for pick up and set down with level access to the pavement should also be made close to the main entrance.

Table 3: Disabled Parking Space Provision

(To be applied to all applications including change of use applications for total floor area)

Use Class	Description	Marked Disabled Bay % of Max Baseline Standard	Widened Bay 3.7m x 6m % of Max Baseline Standard
Class B – Businesses that primarily serve people
B2	General industry (office components to be assessed as Class E use	5% plus one space for each disabled employee	5%
B8	Distribution and warehouse (office components to be assessed as Class E use	5% plus one space for each disabled employee	5%
Class C – Locations where people sleep
C1	Hotels and guest houses (bar / restaurant to be assessed as Sui Generis and Class E uses)	6% plus one space for each disabled employee	4%
C2	Residential institutions	5% plus one space for each disabled employee plus additional spaces dependent on the need of the establishment	5%
C2a	Secure residential institutions	5% plus one space for each disabled employee plus additional spaces dependent on the need of the establishment	5%
C3	Dwellings	5% of unallocated parking provision	5% of unallocated parking provision
C4	Houses in multiple occupation incl. large HMO	5%	5%
Class E - Commercial, Business and Service Users
E	Medical facilities, clinics, health centres, creches, day nurseries, day centre	6% plus one space for each disabled employee plus additional spaces dependent on the need of the establishment	4%
E	Hospitals	6% plus one space for each disabled employee plus additional spaces dependent on the need of the establishment	4%
E	Food retail (other than those shops that fall under Class F2)	6% plus one space for each disabled employee	4%
E	Non-food retail (other than those shops that fall under Class F2)	6% plus one space for each disabled employee	4%
E	Offices	5% plus one space for each disabled employee	5%
E	Restaurants and cafes	5% plus one space for each disabled employee	5%
E	Research and development	5% plus one space for each disabled employee	5%
E	Industrial processes that can be carried out in a residential area	5% plus one space for each disabled employee	5%
E	Gymnasiums and indoor recreations not involving motorised vehicles or firearms or those that fall under F2	6% plus one space for each disabled employee	4%
Class F1 - Learning and Non-Residential Institutions
F1	Further education establishments and training centres	6% plus one space for each disabled employee	4%
F1	Primary, secondary and special schools	6% plus one space for each disabled employee	4%
F1	Museums, public libraries, public halls, exhibition halls, law courts	6% plus one space for each disabled employee	4%
F1	Places of Worship	6% plus one space for each disabled employee	4%
Class F2 - Local Community Uses
F2	Shop not more than 280m²mostly selling essential goods, including food and at least 1km from another similar shop	5% plus one space for each disabled employee	5%
F2	Indoor or outdoor swimming baths, skating rinks, and outdoor sports or recreations not involving motorised vehicles or firearms	6% plus one space for each disabled employee	5 -10%
F2	Stadia	6% plus one space for each disabled employee	5 -10%
F2	Hall or meeting place for the principal use of the local community	5% plus one space for each disabled employee	5%
Class Sui Generis – Locations that are unique in themselves
Sui Generis	Drinking establishments	6% plus one space for each disabled employee	4%
Sui Generis	Hot food takeaway	Discuss with SMBC	Discuss with SMBC
Sui Generis	Cinemas, concert halls and conference facilities	6% plus one space for each disabled employee	4%
Sui Generis	Public transport interchanges, metro stops, railway stations	Discuss with SMBC	Discuss with SMBC
Sui Generis	Theatres, large HMOs, hostels, petrol filling stations, vehicle sales, scrap yards, retail warehouse clubs, night clubs, laundrettes, taxi / PHV business, amusement arcades, casinos, funfairs, waste disposal facilities	Discuss with SMBC	Discuss with SMBC

Parking for Cyclists

Overlooked, well-lit, secure and undercover cycle parking facilities should be incorporated into any development that has the potential to attract cyclists. Cycle parking should be in positions that are convenient to encourage their use and where possible within the building.

The minimum standards set out in Table 4 below, will be required for development proposals in addition to the vehicle parking standards. In cases where reduced numbers off street parking can be justified as part of a development, the Council may require a significant increase in the number of cycle parking spaces to be provided above the minimum standards specified in Table 9.

Table 4: Minimum Cycle Parking Standards

Use Class	Description	Cycle Parking Standard	Cycle Storage Type and Shower Facility
Class B – Businesses that primarily serve people
B2	General industry (office components to be assessed as Class E use	one space per 300m²for staff one space per 1000m²for visitors	Long Stay
B8	Distribution and warehouse (office components to be assessed as Class E use	one space per 300m²for staff one space per 1000m²for visitors	Long Stay
Class C – Locations where people sleep
C1	Hotels and guest houses (bar / restaurant to be assessed as sui generis and Class E uses	one space per ten bedrooms	Long Stay
C2	Residential institutions	one space per ten members of staff	Long Stay
C2a	Secure residential institutions	one space per ten members of staff	Long Stay
C3	Dwelling houses	One-bed - one space Two-bed - two spaces Three-bed - two spaces Four-bed - three spaces Five-bed - three spaces Six-bed - four spaces Seven-bed - four spaces Eight-bed - five spaces Visitor spaces – discuss with SMBC	Long stay for residents Short stay for visitors
C3	Dwellings (apartments only)	one space per one and two bed dwelling two spaces per 3+ bed dwelling one space per five apartments for visitors	Long stay for staff / residents Short stay for visitors
C4	Houses in multiple occupation incl. large HMO	one space per five bedrooms one space per five bedrooms for visitors	Long stay for residents Short stay for visitors
Class E - Commercial, Business and Service Users
E	Medical facilities, clinics, health centres, creches, day nurseries, day centre	one space per 300m²for staff one space per 1000m²for visitors	Long stay for staff Short stay for visitors
E	Hospitals	one space per 300m²for staff one space per 1000m²for visitors	Long stay for staff Short stay for visitors
E	Food retail (other than those shops that fall under Class F2)	one space per 200m²	Long stay for staff Short stay for visitors
E	Non-food retail (other than those shops that fall under Class F2)	one space per 200m²	Long stay for staff Short stay for visitors
E	Offices	one space per 300m²for staff one space per 1000m²for visitors	Long Stay
E	Restaurants and cafes	one space per 100m²	Long stay for staff Short stay for visitors
E	Research and development	one space per 300m²for staff one space per 1000m²for visitors	Long Stay
E	Industrial processes that can be carried out in a residential area	one space per 300m²for staff one space per 1000m²for visitors	Long Stay
E	Gymnasiums and indoor recreations not involving motorised vehicles or firearms or those that fall under F2	one space per 200m²for staff one space per ten person trips for visitors	Long stay for staff Short stay for visitors
Class F1 - Learning and Non-Residential Institutions
F1	Further education establishments and training centres	one space per five students one space per five members of staff one space per 150 students for visitors	Long stay for staff / students Short stay for visitors
F1	Primary, secondary and special schools	one space per five students one space per five members of staff one space per 150 students for visitors	Long stay for staff / students Short stay for visitors
F1	Museums, public libraries, public halls, exhibition halls, law courts	one space per 200m²for staff one space per ten-person trips for visitors	Long stay for staff Short stay for visitors
F1	Places of worship	one space per 200m²for staff one space per ten-person trips for visitors	Long stay for staff Short stay for visitors
Class F2 - Local Community Uses
F2	Shop not more than 280m^twomostly selling essential goods, including food and at least 1km from another similar shop	one space per 100m²	Long stay for staff Short stay for visitors
F2	Indoor or outdoor swimming baths, skating rinks, and outdoor sports or recreations not involving motorised vehicles or firearms	one space per 200m²for staff one space per ten person trips for visitors	Long stay for staff Short stay for visitors
F2	Stadia	one space per 200m²for staff one space per ten person trips for visitors	Long stay for staff Short stay for visitors
F2	Hall or meeting place for the principal use of the local community	one space per 200m²for staff one space per ten person trips for visitors	Long stay for staff Short stay for visitors
Class Sui Generis – Locations that are unique in themselves
Sui Generis	Drinking establishments	one space per 100m²	Long stay for staff Short stay for visitors
Sui Generis	Hot food takeaway	one space per 100m²	Long stay for staff Short stay for visitors
Sui Generis	Cinemas, concert halls and conference facilities	one space per 200m²for staff one space per ten-person trips for visitors	Long stay for staff Short stay for visitors
Sui Generis	Public transport interchanges, metro stops, railway stations	one space per 200m²for staff one space per ten- person trips for visitors	Long stay for staff Short stay for visitors
Sui Generis	Theatres, large HMOs, hostels, petrol filling stations, vehicle sales, scrap yards, retail warehouse clubs, night clubs, laundrettes, taxi / PHV business, amusement arcades, casinos, funfairs, waste disposal facilities	Discuss with SMBC	Long stay for staff Short stay for visitors

Powered Two Wheeled Vehicles

Powered two wheeled vehicles can play an important part in delivering integrated and sustainable transport. They offer reduced journey times, are easier to park in areas of limited on street parking, offer cheaper travel choices relative to a car and can potentially benefit climate change by generally producing lower emissions than cars.

As a minimum it is proposed that developers should provide for safe, overlooked, well-lit and secure parking for powered two wheeled vehicles equal to 2% of the car parking spaces provided at retail developments and 4% of the car parking spaces at all other developments except residential.

For housing developments space shall be made available within the dwelling curtilage or in allocated or bays.

Table 5: Minimum Parking Standards for Powered Two Wheelers

Use Class	Description	Percentage of Baseline Standard	Threshold for at least 1 parking space and shower facility
Class B – Businesses that primarily serve people
B2	General industry (office components to be assessed as Class E use)	4%	100m² or greater
B8	Distribution and warehouse (office components to be assessed as Class E use)	4%	100m² or greater
Class C – Locations where people sleep
C1	Hotels and guest houses (bar / restaurant to be assessed as sui generis and Class E uses)	4%	When total vehicle parking provision is 20 or greater
C2	Residential institutions	4%	When total vehicle parking provision is 20 or greater
C2a	Secure residential institutions	4%	When total vehicle parking provision is 20 or greater
C3	Residential dwellings	Not required	Not required
C4	Houses in multiple occupation incl. large HMO	Not required	Not required
Class E - Commercial, Business and Service Users
E	Medical facilities, clinics, health centres, creches, day nurseries, day centre	4%	When total vehicle parking provision is 20 or greater
E	Hospitals	4%	When total vehicle parking provision is 20 or greater
E	Food retail (other than those shops that fall under Class F2)	2%	200m² or greater
E	Non-food retail (other than those shops that fall under Class F2)	2%	200m² or greater
E	Offices	4%	50m² or greater
E	Restaurants and cafes	2%	200m² or greater
E	Research and development	4%	100m² or greater
E	Industrial processes that can be carried out in a residential area	4%	100m² or greater
E	Gymnasiums and indoor recreations not involving motorised vehicles or firearms or those that fall under F2	4%	200m² or greater
Class F1 - Learning and Non-Residential Institutions
F1	Further education establishments and training centres	4%	200m² or greater
F1	Primary, secondary and special schools	4%	200m² or greater
F1	Museums, public libraries, public halls, exhibition halls, law courts	4%	200m² or greater
F1	Places of worship	4%	200m² or greater
Class F2 - Local Community Uses
F2	Shop not more than 280m²mostly selling essential goods, including food and at least 1km from another similar shop	Not required	Not required
F2	Indoor or outdoor swimming baths, skating rinks, and outdoor sports or recreations not involving motorised vehicles or firearms	4%	200m² or greater
F2	Stadia	4%	200m² or greater
F2	Hall or meeting place for the principal use of the local community	4%	When total vehicle parking provision is 20 or greater
Class Sui Generis – Locations that are unique in themselves
Sui Generis	Drinking establishments	2%	200m² or greater
Sui Generis	Hot food takeaway	2%	200m² or greater
Sui Generis	Cinemas, concert halls and conference facilities	4%	200m² or greater
Sui Generis	Public transport interchanges, metro sops, railway stations	4%	When total vehicle parking provision is 20 or greater
Sui Generis	Theatres, large HMOs, hostels, petrol filling stations, vehicle sales, scrap yards, retail warehouse clubs, night clubs, laundrettes, taxi / PHV business, amusement arcades, casinos, funfairs, waste disposal facilities	4%	When total vehicle parking provision is 20 or greater

Provision of Infrastructure to Support Electric Vehicle Technology

Applications for development should be designed to enable charging of plug-in and other ultra-low emission vehicles in safe, accessible and convenient locations.

Electric Vehicle Charging Point Specification

Residential Development

Infrastructure to allow an external charging point shall be provided adjacent to at least one parking space for each private dwelling. For flatted developments and apartments where the parking may be some distance from the dwellings, one charging point for every ten unallocated spaces is required.

Non-Residential Development

It will be the responsibility of the developer to provide 5% of all parking spaces in these developments to be covered with an electric charging point. Appropriate cable provision shall be in place for a further 5% to meet any future increase in demand.

Operational Parking Requirements

The parking requirements in Table 6 below will be applied to the total additional floor area on all applications including change of use applications.

Table 6: Operational Parking Requirements

Use Class	Description	Operational Parking Requirement
Class C – Locations where people sleep
C2	Residential institutions	Space for ambulance, minibus or van. Space for one pick-up and drop off point
C2a	Secure residential institutions	5% plus one space for each disabled employee plus additional spaces dependent on the need of the establishment	5%
C3	Dwellings	Adequate provision for refuse collecting vehicles and emergency vehicle access which should normally be separate from car parking spaces will need to be demonstrated.
Class E - Commercial, Business and Service Users
E	Medical facilities, clinics, health centres, day centre	Space for one pick-up and drop off point
E	Hospitals	Space shall be reserved for ambulances adjacent to the main entrance. Space shall be allocated for large delivery or refuse vehicles which shall be accessed in a manner that avoids conflict with access ways required by ambulances
E	Retail	Gross floor space	Minimum load and unload
		500m²	50m²
		1000m²	100m²
		2000m²	150m²
		Service areas for loading and unloading must be laid out to allow lorries to enter and exit the site in forward gear
E	Financial and professional services	Banks, building societies and other financial services used by the public – no operational parking required. 50m² for loading and unloading
E	Restaurants and cafes	Service areas for loading and unloading must be laid out to allow lorries to enter and exit the site in a forward motion
E	Gymnasiums and indoor recreations not involving motorised vehicles or firearms or those that fall under F2	50m² loading and unloading area
Class F1 - Learning and Non-Residential Institutions
F1	All schools	Adequate space should be allocated for coaches which may be used either to bring students to school or for school trips. For large schools, an on-site traffic flow system should be provided to accommodate a larger number of vehicles
F1	Special schools	Space shall be allocated for minibuses / ambulances adjacent to the main entrance of the building
F1	Secondary schools	Where on site provision cannot be made, it must be clearly shown that on-street parking of coaches will not detrimentally affect the free flow of traffic on the highway
F1	Primary schools and nurseries	Pick up and drop off areas for parents' vehicles should be provided in a safe place that will not have a detrimental impact on the highway or highway safety
F1	Museums, galleries and libraries	Minimum loading and unloading 50m²
F1	Places of worship	Adequate spaces for wedding and funeral vehicles either within the site or on-street
Class F2 - Local Community Uses
F2	Shop not more than 280m²mostly selling essential goods, including food and at least 1km from another similar shop	Discuss with SMBC
F2	Indoor or outdoor swimming baths, skating rinks, and outdoor sports or recreations not involving motorised vehicles or firearms	50m² loading and unloading area
F2	Stadia	To be determined on a case-by-case basis having regards to the type of activity proposed
Class Sui Generis – Locations that are unique in themselves
Sui Generis	Drinking establishments	Service areas for loading and unloading must be laid out to allow lorries to enter and exit the site in a forward motion
Sui Generis	Hot food takeaway	Service areas for loading and unloading must be laid out to allow lorries to enter and exit the site in a forward motion
Sui Generis	Cinemas, concert halls and conference facilities	50m² for loading and unloading area Space for one pick-up and drop off point
All Other Uses		Discuss with SMBC

Transport, Accessibility and Parking Assessment Form

National Planning Policy recommends a broad approach to assessing the transport implications of development proposals. This Transport, Accessibility and Parking Assessment (TAPA) Form should be completed in conjunction with a planning application form.

Reference 1. Transport, Accessibility and Parking Assessment Form

Application Details

Ref Number

Description of proposed development land use/ sq. metres/ number of units/ proposed car parking spaces (public / private)

Address / Location

Transport Characteristics of Scheme

Non-residential:

Expected number of employees visiting the site per day (if relevant):

Of which approximately how many are expected to arrive by:

Car

Car Sharing

Bus

Train

Bicycle

Walking

Other (please specify)

Expected number of visitors per day visiting the development (if relevant):

Of which approximately how many are expected to arrive by:

Car

Car Sharing

Bus

Train

Bicycle

Walking

Other (please specify)

Of which approximately how many are expected to be:

Light good vehicles

Other good vehicles

Residential:

Expected number of residential movements per day including likely destinations (if relevant):

Of which approximately how many are expected to come and go by:

Car

Car Sharing

Bus

Train

Bicycle

Walking

Other (please specify)

All Uses:

Identify any expected times of day and week for peak departures and arrivals:

Identify any special transport characteristics of the development:

State the relationship (if any) of the development to the Local Transport Plan proposals affecting the site:

Provide details of the number of parking spaces to be provided:

Cars

Disabled Bays

Cycles (state if covered)

Motorbikes (state if covered)

Outline of any planned measures to limit transport impacts (please read attached note 1)

Describe any measures planned to influence the way employees and visitors access the site (such as encouraging walking, cycling and public transport):

Describe any measures you propose to ensure freight and delivery traffic is efficient and causes as little disruption as possible:

Describe any proposed measures to alter or improve the surrounding road network:

Identify any improvements proposed to enhance walking, cycling and public transport within or outside the development site:

Provide an explanation of any parking controls and parking management:

Note 1. As part of the planning application the Local Planning Authority may require additional information on proposed measures to reduce the impact of traffic generated activities at the site. This may take the form of a Travel Plan or changes to the layout and design of the buildings. It may also cover proposed changes to the surrounding road network. Emphasis will be placed upon addressing the likely impact of freight movements and deliveries.

Reference 2. Accessibility

Accessibility Assessment		Accessibility Level High: 30 - 21 Medium: 20 - 11 Low: 10 or less
Access Type	Criteria	Criteria Scores	Score	Sub Score
Walking	Distance to nearest bus stop from main entrance of building (via direct, safe route)	<200m <300m <500m >500m	5 3 1 0
Walking	Distance to nearest railway station from main entrance of building (via direct, safe route)	<400m <1km >1km	3 2 0
Cycling	Proximity to defined cycle routes	<100m <500m <1km >1km	3 2 1 0
Public Transport	Bus frequency of principal service from nearest bus stop during operational hours of the development	15 mins or less 30 mins or less >30 minutes	5 3 1
	Number of bus services serving different localities stopping within 200m of the main entrance	Localities served 4 or more 3 2 1	5 3 2 1
	Train frequency from nearest station (Mon-Sat daytime)	30 mins or less 30 - 59 mins Hourly or less	3 2 1
	Drive to nearest station	Facilities on site or within 100m that reduce the need to travel: Food shop/café Newsagent Creche Other	1 1 1 1

National Planning Policy Framework

National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) promotes that Local Planning Authorities when setting local parking standards for residential and non-residential development should take into account:

The accessibility of the development;
The type, mix and use of development;
The availability of and opportunities for public transport;
Local car ownership levels; and
The need to ensure an adequate provision of spaces for charging plug-in and other ultra-low emission vehicles.

However, there is no mention of minimum or maximum parking standards and the onus is firmly upon the Local Planning Authority to determine what is appropriate for their area by using local knowledge, benchmarking and best practice, taking into consideration the above criteria based on locally derived evidence.

NPPF states that transport issues should be considered from the earliest stages of plan-making and development proposals and significant development should be focused on locations which are or can be made sustainable, through limiting the need to travel and offering a genuine choice of transport modes.

This can help to reduce congestion and emissions and improve air quality and public health. However, opportunities to maximise sustainable transport solutions will vary between urban and rural areas, and this should be taken into account in both plan-making and decision-making.

Maximum parking standards for residential and non-residential development should only be set where there is a clear and compelling justification that they are necessary for managing the local road network, or for optimising the density of development in city and town centres and other locations that are well served by public transport.

In town centres, local authorities should seek to improve the quality of parking so that it is convenient, safe and secure alongside measures to promote accessibility for pedestrians and cyclists.

In assessing development sites, proposals should ensure that:

Appropriate opportunities to promote sustainable transport modes can be – or have been – taken up, given the type of development and its location;
Safe and suitable access to the site can be achieved for all users;
The design of streets, parking areas, other transport elements and the content of associated standards reflects current national guidance;
Any significant impacts from the development on the transport network (in terms of capacity and congestion), or on highway safety, can be cost effectively mitigated to an acceptable degree.

The NPPF states that development should only be prevented or refused on highways grounds if there would be an unacceptable impact on highway safety, or the residual cumulative impacts on the road network would be severe. However, there is no definition or value given to what should be considered severe; this relies on analysis, best practice, previous inspector rulings and local evidence to be used to instigate discussions between developers and the local authority.

In addition, all developments that will generate significant amounts of movement should be required to provide a travel plan, and the application should be supported by a transport statement or transport assessment so that the likely impacts of the proposal can be assessed.

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