The Supplementary Planning Document (SPD), Vehicle Parking At New Developments, was adopted by NHDC on 10 November 2011.
The SPD provides guidance on parking provision at new developments in line with national policy that promotes local decision making on appropriate parking standards. It adopts a policy stance that the Council does not wish to use parking standards to restrict car ownership (evidence suggests this does not work) but it does wish to influence car usage.
The standards now therefore apply a ‘minimum’ parking standard to residential development that takes into account levels of car ownership and expected growth, whilst retaining ‘maximum’ provision for non residential development along with the zonal approach to parking restraint.
The Document is important for developers and the wider community when planning new development allowing informed and consistent decisions to be made on planning applications. An associated Sustainability Appraisal (SA) incorporating the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) has been prepared as part of the emerging Local Development Framework in line with national and European legislation.
The SPD is available to view and download below.