Residents of new build estates could soon find it more challenging to park their cars following new guidance issued by Homes England, the government's housing accelerator. The 146-page document, titled 'Parking What Works Where', seeks to 'reduce the amount of land lost to poorly organised' parking and free up space for additional homes.
Key Recommendations
The guidance urges developers to prioritise walking and cycling infrastructure to diminish reliance on vehicles. Among its 'golden rules' for all locations, it emphasises that streets 'should not be dominated by car parking' and that getting street design right is paramount. Instead, the document advocates for shared parking spaces, stating that 'unallocated car parking is the most efficient, as it helps balance the needs of households with different levels of car ownership'. It explains that if a parking bay is no longer needed by one occupant, another can use it, which is best achieved by removing some bays from individual plots.
Efficiency and Density
The guide aims to 'create compact places that support an increased housing density, lessen the car parking demand and use land efficiently'. However, it acknowledges potential drawbacks, warning that 'there's a risk of car parking congestion or residents being unable to park their cars close to their homes if spaces are full' and that it 'can lead to difficulties in managing the allocation of spaces if demand exceeds supply'.
Criticism from Campaigners
Campaign groups such as the Alliance of British Drivers (ABD) have expressed concern that this is part of a broader agenda to phase out cars. Ian Taylor, a director at the ABD, told the Daily Mail: 'Once again this is part of a wider move to restrict parking availability. The less parking there is, especially at people's homes, the more difficult and expensive it is to run a motor. You take away the parking space, you take away the journey.' He added that regulations are constantly changing, with the number of required parking spaces decreasing, sometimes to none at all, and that 'it's the government answer to everything: get them off the road, or at least drastically reduce the numbers'.
Mixed Parking Solutions
The guidance recommends a variety of parking options tailored to development density, including communal bays, on-street parking, shared spaces, garages, and 'car barns'. It also stresses that cycle storage and visitor cycle parking should be universally provided. Homes England stated: 'We want parking to be provided in a way that uses land more efficiently, while helping to create streets that are safer, more attractive, and better places to live. Our second edition guidance supports a more flexible approach that encourages a mix of parking types and layouts, helping to make best use of available space while ensuring residents can still park conveniently close to their homes.'
Context of Declining Parking Provisions
This guidance follows recent analysis of data from 5,000 London residential developments approved since 2016, which revealed a 75% reduction in parking provisions. Currently, only one parking space is built for every six new apartments, and one in five developments have no car parking provision at all.
