Parking standards

TR3: Parking standards Standards 1. Development proposals are required to comply with the latest Buckinghamshire Parking Standards for new developments in appendix I and the design principles in the national design guide. Controlled parking zones (CPZs) a) Controlled Parking Zone (CPZ) is an area where parking is managed to regulate use, prioritise users and support safe and efficient access. b) CPZs must be considered where development is likely to result in parking demand exceeding available capacity, or where unmanaged parking would give rise to safety, access or operational issues. c) Developments proposing reduced or shared parking provision, including within the Town Centre Zone and other highly accessible locations, must implement CPZs where necessary to manage on-street parking demand, support safe access and enable the effective operation of the highway network. *Parking standards are regularly being reviewed, and this policy refers to the prevailing standards at the time planning permission is granted. 7.309 The Parking Standards for New Developments provide the requirements for parking provision and management in new developments. The standards reflect what the council deems as the most appropriate amount of parking that should normally be met to support growth without causing adverse effects to our residents, visitors and neighbourhoods. 7.310 Parking plays a significant role in shaping Buckinghamshire’s people and places. Insufficient parking can constrain economic activity and lead to inappropriate or unsafe parking behaviour, while excessive parking can consume valuable land and make places harder to navigate. Providing suitable parking facilities for wheelers, cyclists and motorcyclists is essential to support sustainable travel, and ensuring adequate disabled parking for Blue Badge holders is also vital for mobility and independence. 7.311 Electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure must be provided in all new developments in line with current government regulations and the requirements set out in the Parking Standards for New Developments. EV parking spaces will typically be counted as part of, and not in addition to, the defined parking standards. Installations should be technologically advanced, widely accessible, reliable and include consideration for alternative fuel vehicle technologies. 7.312 Policies within the NPPF have given local authorities the flexibility to tailor parking provision based on local market demands, community needs and future transport ambitions. Recent NPPF policy changes favour dense developments in accessible places, emphasise the importance of active travel and public transport networks and establish clear expectations for parking provision to align growth with sustainable transport options. 7.313 Buckinghamshire’s Local Transport Plan sets out the local priorities for promoting modal shift and influencing the quality and character of local streets. The Parking standards takes the many demographic and economic variations in Buckinghamshire’s urban and rural areas as well as the significant variations in accessibility of public transport and reflects these variations in the parking standards to ensure adequate parking provision. The standards also provide flexibility where there are evidenced circumstances to justify deviations reinforcing the need for context-based parking. 7.314 The requirement for a CPZ will be determined based on the scale, location and impact of the development. Where they are required, clearly defined and agreed management arrangements must be in place to ensure their delivery, operation and long-term management is secured as part of the development, including appropriate funding and interim arrangements prior to adoption where applicable. CPZs must also be subject to ongoing monitoring and periodic review to ensure they remain effective and respond to changing demand over time. The introduction of CPZs is subject to formal processes and statutory requirements. Further information on Buckinghamshire Council’s approach to delivery and implementation is available here. 7.315 All development proposals are required to comply with the parking standards as they will be a material consideration for the determination of planning applications and progressing the Local Plan development plans and the Local Transport Plan (LTP5) transport priorities.