Appendix J - Car Parking Standards

Car Parking Standards

1. OBJECTIVE

The car parking standards set out the minimum car parking requirements which each development will normally be expected to provide, although every planning application is treated on its individual merits. The standards are intended to ensure that sufficient space is provided or is available, within or close to the site and clear of public highways, to accommodate all vehicles likely to be attracted to or generated by a proposed development, to minimise the dangers to public and highway safety and the loss of amenity and convenience likely to be caused by on-street parking.

2. OPERATIONAL SPACE

Sufficient manoeuvring and standing space is required within the site for the maximum number and size of vehicles likely to be required at any one time for the operational needs of the development, including space for delivering or collecting goods at the premises and for picking up or setting down passengers. This is in addition to the car parking requirements specified in this document. Operational space will need to be assessed individually for each proposal.

3. LAYOUT

The normal minimum parking bay size for right angle parking is 2.4 m by 4.8 m with a 6 m aisle width in front. Dimensions for disabled parking spaces are given in the 'Accessible Environment’ Section below. Apart from parking within the curtilage of a single dwelling, layouts should be such that each parking space is capable of functioning without interference with any other space, and there should be enough space for all vehicles to be able to enter and leave the site in a forward gear.

4. ACCESSIBLE ENVIRONMENT

It is a policy of the Council to provide an accessible environment for people with disabilities. It is therefore important that developments to which the public will be admitted – shops, factories, offices, sports facilities, etc. – should provide adequate car parking facilities for people with disabilities.

Disabled parking bays should be 3.6 m wide to accommodate wheelchair users or at least 3 m wide for non-wheelchair users and located in a convenient location close to the most accessible building entrance. The bays should be clearly marked as being for use by disabled people. For further information see Trafford Borough Council’s Leaflet ‘Designing for Everyone’.

5. APPEARANCE

Care needs to be taken at the design stage about the appearance of car parking. This will include consideration of where to locate the parking, what surface materials to use and space for landscaping.

6. SECURITY

The security of parking areas should be considered at an early stage. The incorporation of appropriate design features to help prevent crime offers many benefits to developers and owners. Architects and developers should be aware that Police Architectural or Crime Prevention Officers are able to provide advice on car parking in relation to: layout and siting; lighting; landscaping; defined perimeter, usage and signage; pedestrian and vehicular access control; surveillance and visibility.

7. MAXIMUM STANDARDS

Maximum standards are not specified in this document. However, in view of Government advice in Planning Policy Guidance Note PPG13 about reducing the need to travel, especially by car, any proposal involving parking provision substantially in excess of the standards set out below will be looked at critically to see whether it would harm the objectives of PPG13.

8. CYCLE PARKING PROVISION

The Council will encourage provision of facilities for pedal cycle parking within new developments. On all developments with 50 or more parking spaces some secure cycle parking facilities should be provided, in a situation well overlooked or open to view. In office, industrial and warehousing developments at least one cycle space to every 8 car spaces should be provided. More space should be provided where there is particular demand, e.g. at educational institutions.

9. THE STANDARDS

Notes:

All floor-space based standards relate to gross floor-space unless otherwise stated. Where town centres are referred to, this means the centres of Altrincham, Sale, Stretford and Urmston as defined on the Unitary Development Plan Proposals Map.

9.1 Residential

a) Terraced houses

Residents : 1 space per dwelling

Visitors : 1 space per dwelling if within the curtilage, or 0.5 space per dwelling if grouped.

b)Semi-detached houses with up to 3 bedrooms

Residents : 1 space

Visitors : 1 space

c) Semi-detached houses with 4 or more bedrooms

Residents : 2 spaces

Visitors : 1 space

d) Detached houses with up to 2 bedrooms

Residents : 1 space

Visitors : 1 space

e) Detached houses with 3 bedrooms

Residents : 2 spaces

Visitors : 1 space

f) Detached houses with 4 bedrooms (other than in the south of the Borough)

Residents : 2 spaces

Visitors : 1 space

g) Detached houses with 4 or more bedrooms in the south of the Borough

Residents : 2 spaces

Visitors : 2 spaces

h) Detached houses with 5 or more bedrooms

Residents : 2 spaces

Visitors : 2 spaces

i) Flats

Note 1:  Of the above an amount of not less than 0.5 space per flat shall be provided as communal parking readily available for general use including use by visitors.

Note 2:  For Local Authority and Housing Association flats where the Local Planning Authority is satisfied that these are and will continue to be likely to attract below average car usage the above requirements may be reduced to not less than 1 space per flat.

Note 3:  A proportion of the parking spaces provided should be capable of accommodating a garage.

j) Sheltered housing

(Purpose built or converted accommodation exclusively for occupation by persons 60 years of age or over together with a spouse aged 55 years or over, which consists of ground accommodation with an emergency alarm system, usually with communal facilities and under common management and either with a resident warden or a non-resident warden on call).

i) Resident staff : 1 car parking space per residential unit.

ii) Other Residents:  Where the Council is satisfied that the management and sale or letting policies of the development agency are and will continue to be such that occupation will be by the frailer elderly unlikely for the most part to be owning a car: 1 space per 8 dwellings. In other cases : 1 space per 2 dwellings.

iii) Visitors : 1 car parking space for every 8 dwellings.

k) Other accommodation for the elderly:

The full parking (and garage space) standard for houses and flats will apply unless the Local Planning Authority can be satisfied that the type and location of the development justifies a relaxation of that standard.  (Such a relaxation would not normally be less than one car parking space for every two dwellings for residents plus one space to every eight dwellings for visitors).

Note:  Where a relaxation of the normal standard under j) (ii) or k) is applied a condition will be attached to the relevant planning permission to restrict occupancy of the accommodation to be provided to persons of 60 years of age or over together with a spouse aged 55 years or over or other occupants, as may be agreed by the Local Planning Authority.

l) Homes for persons unlikely to be able to drive a car

Including children’s homes, homes for the mentally handicapped, and care homes and nursing homes for elderly persons:

• Resident staff : 1 space per residential unit
• Non-resident staff : 1 space per two staff on duty at the busiest time.

m) Houses in Multiple Occupation:

1.5 spaces per letting unit unless the Council is satisfied that a lesser amount, down to a minimum of 0.5 of a space per habitable room, would be appropriate in the circumstances having regard to the size, type and location of the accommodation.

9.2 Shops

Including uses within Class A2 of the Town and Country Planning (Use Classes) 1987 (Financial and Professional Services where the services are provided principally to visiting members of the public).

 a) General standard (except as specified below):1 space/15 sq.m.

 b) Town centres:1 space/20 sq.m.

 c) Small neighbourhood shops: 1 space/20 sq.m.

d) Large food stores (over 2,000 sq.m): out of centre:1 space/11 sq.m,  town centres:1 space/15 sq.m.

 e) Out of centre large non-food stores retailing mainly bulky goods (including DIY stores, builders merchants, flat pack furniture, floor coverings): 1 space/28 sq.m.

f) Car sales:

Showrooms, covered car display areas, office, storage and ancillary retail floorspace: 1 space/50 sq.m.

Open car display areas: 1 space/100 sq.m.

Associated workshops: 1 space/20 sq.m.

g) Garden centres:

Enclosed display and sales areas : 1 space/15 sq.m.

Open display areas: 1 space/50 sq.m.

 h) Hot food takeaways:

Standard normally as for general shops.  However, if a change of use to a restaurant or bar seems likely and is not prevented by condition, the full restaurant or bar standard will be required.

Any restaurant/cafe use which is part of a hot food takeaway proposal will be assessed separately at the restaurant standard.

 9.3 Industry, Warehousing, Storage and Distribution

a) General:

First 235 sq.m. gross floorspace: 1 space/35 sq.m.

Additional floorspace above 235 sq.m:  1 space/70 sq.m.

Offices ancillary to main use : normally included in the above but will be assessed separately at the office standard if they amount to over 20% of the total floorspace.

b) Business park development intended for uses in Class B1 of the Town and Country Planning (Use Classes) Order 1987 (offices, research and development, and light industry) and designed to be suitable for use as offices will be assessed at the office standard.

9.4 Offices

Excluding offices ancillary to another main use and those within Class A2 of the Town and Country Planning (Use Classes) Order 1987.

a) General : 1 space/25 sq.m.

b) Main Office Zones (as defined in the Unitary Development Plan) : 1 space/30 sq.m.

9.5 Hotels, Motels, Premises offering overnight accommodation

Resident staff: 1 space per member of resident staff

Other staff: included below

Customers and other staff : 1 space/guest bedroom

Facilities open to non-residents (bars, coffee shops, restaurants, conference rooms etc: 1 space/4 sq.m. of public floorspace

Sports facilities: 1 space per two persons likely to be present at the busiest time

Note 1:  Where there is a wide range of facilities for residents and non-residents, a reduction of up to 25% of the total may be considered.

Note 2:  For hotels in town centres, the above standard may be reduced to 75% of the total.

9.6 Restaurants and Cafes

Staff and customers:    1 space/4 sq.m. public floorspace

This may be reduced to 1 space/8 sq.m. in town centres.

Note 1:  If a change of use to a bar seems likely and is not prevented by condition, the full bar standard (see next section) will be required.

Note 2:  Cafes likely to attract significant numbers of goods vehicles will be required to provide space for goods vehicles within the site.  This will be assessed individually.

9.7 Public Houses, Bars

Including wine bars, unless clear that these are mainly for food and likely to remain so.

Staff and customers: 1 space/2.5 sq.m. drinking/dining floorspace.

This may be reduced to 1 space/5 sq.m. in town centres. 

9.8 Churches (including buildings used for, or in connection with, public worship or religious instruction): 1 space/8 seats.

9.9 Assembly Halls

a) Cinemas, theatres, concert halls, bingo halls, casinos, dance halls, public halls, night clubs, community centres, conference facilities, function rooms, social clubs

Staff and visitors: 1 space/4 sq.m. public floorpsace.

This may be reduced to 1 space/6sq.m. in town centres.

b) Museums, art galleries, exhibition halls and libraries

Staff and visitors: 1 space/20 sq.m. gross floorspace.

This may be reduced to 1 space/40 sq.m. in town centres.

9.10 Hospitals

Staff, patients and visitors:

Accommodation for long stay patients (elderly or mentally ill): 2 spaces for every 3 beds

Day places for elderly or mentally ill: 2 spaces for every 3 places

Other accommodation:1 space per bed

Outpatients and accident/emergency facilities: 1 space for every 4 anticipated daily attendances.

9.11 Clinics/Health Centres/Joint GP Practices

Includes premises for medical consultation, doctors’, dentists’, and veterinary surgeries.  Exclude out-patients’ clinics.

Staff and visitors: 4 spaces for every consulting room.

This may be reduced to three spaces to each consulting room for sites in town centres.

Note:  The requirements can be reduced if not all consulting rooms will be in use at the same time, if this can be assured in the long term.

9.12 Day Nurseries 

9.13 Playgroups

Staff: one space for every 2 staff

Visitors (including parents): one space for every 3 children

9.14 Primary and Secondary Schools

Staff: 1 space for every member of teaching staff present at the busiest time.                                

1 space for every 3 members of non-teaching staff present at the busiest time.

Visitors: 3 spaces for primary schools, 5 spaces for secondary schools.

Note:  In primary and secondary schools, a suitable part of the hard play area shall be allocated and suitably constructed so that it can be used by cars on school open days.

9.15 Colleges of Further Education

Staff: 1 space for every member of teaching staff present at the busiest time plus 1 space for every 3 members of non-teaching staff present at the busiest time.

Students: 1 space for every 10 students (full time equivalent).

Note 1:  This minimum requirement may be increased depending upon the type of courses available (if for example, a high proportion of day release or mature students are envisaged).

Note 2:  Ample space should also be made for cycles and motorcycles.

9.16 Sports Facilities

Include swimming baths, skating rinks, gymnasium or areas for other indoor or outdoor sports or recreations.

a) Sports centres

Participants and staff:-

(i)   Main hall: 1 space/10 sq.m.

(ii)  Other halls: 1 space/20 sq.m.

(iii) Swimming pool: 1 space/8 sq.m. (pool surface area)

(iv) Other facilities: 1 space per participant

(v)  Cafe/bar: 1 space/10 sq.m. drinking/dining floorspace

(Note – may need to assess separately if likely to attract significant numbers of non‑participants).

(vi)  Spectators: First 50 seats  = Nil, Subsequent seats = 1 space/4 seats

b) Other sports facilities

Participants, staff, officials: 1 space per 2 persons present at busiest time (including those in changing, waiting or refreshment areas).

Spectators, if significant numbers of spectators are expected regularly: 1 space/4 seats or places.

9.17 Petrol Filling Stations

Car wash:  4 standing spaces per wash.

Retail space

First 70 sq.m:  2 spaces to be provided.

Above 70 sq.m:  one space for every additional 30 sq.m. gross floorspace.

9.18 Vehicle Service and Repair Workshops

Staff and customers:  1 space/20 sq.m.

9.19 Day Care and Adult Training Centres, Day Centres for the Physically Handicapped

Staff: One car space is required for each member of staff present at the busiest time.

Visitors:  Most of the visitors will use public transport or be transported to these establishments.

In the day centres for the physically handicapped for a unit of around 50 persons, ten car spaces are required for Invacar users.