Local Planning Guidance Notes No 16 - Parking Standards

This note updates the Council's parking standards that have been in operation since 1989. The note will form a material consideration in the determination of all relevant planning applications. The standards have been updated to reflect government and Council policy on transportation and land use planning.

They are based on other local authorities' recent standards which share Wrexham's characteristics and those contained in the Annex to draft PPG13, October 1999. The context for these standards was established by the Wrexham Integrated Transport Strategy, January 1999 and its 'daughter' document the Parking Strategy, approved for consultation December 1999. These documents have now been adopted by the Council.

This context includes:-

• recognition that the availability of parking influences choice of means of transport;
• the need to reduce reliance on the motor car and promote other means of travel;
• making the best use of the existing transport network and of resources for transport; and
• the need to promote regeneration and investment in Wrexham.

2. Standard of Provision

The Standards are shown in Fig A-D and are based on the Use Classes Order 1987 (as amended). They apply throughout the County Borough Council with the following exceptions:-

(i) Where the implementation of these standards would cause road safety or congestion problems additional provision will be required.

(ii) Variations may be allowed in the light of local circumstances. Local circumstances include: the availability of nearby parking and of public transport. Planning policies which seek to maintain the town centre and other areas designated as the main centres for development activity in the County Borough are also relevant considerations. Within the town centre shopping area, as defined in the Development Plan, operational parking, that is for servicing only, is all that is required. Commuted payments will be required in lieu of parking provision. The preparation of Green Transport Plans containing a package of measures to reduce reliance on the car and promote walking, cycling and public transport use instead will be encouraged.

(iii) For uses not mentioned in Fig A-D the considerations set out in (ii), above will be used to establish maximum parking requirements in the light of the land use in question and its potential to generate traffic.

(iv) Innovative car free housing schemes will be considered on their merits.

Figure A

Figure B

Figure C

Figure D

3. Additional Notes

The following points should be noted:-

(i) The car parking standards are maximum standards for each land use category. Where the maximum is not provided the developer will be required to show the scale of the journeys to the site and, if these journeys exceed proposed parking provision, how the resulting shortfall will be catered for. Possible solutions include a Transport Plan and/or the provision of a commuted sum for Council provided services such as a contribution towards improvements for public car parks (e.g. improved lighting or security), construction of additional car parks or a park and ride service. The commuted sum will be calculated from the cost of land and car park construction.

(ii) Cycle parking standards are to be found in Local Planning Guidance Note 15: Cycling.

(iii) Motor cycle parking standards are in addition to those for pedal cycles and should be provided at sites requiring 25 or more car parking spaces at the rate of 1 space per 25 car parking spaces.

(iv) Fractions of a parking space calculated from these figures should be rounded up.

(v) The calculation of parking provision for mixed use developments will vary with the type of uses proposed. In cases where the mixed uses generally operate concurrently, levels applicable to all uses will be aggregated. Where the mixed uses generate demands at different times of the day the provision of space will be based on the development type which is the dominant use of that specific site.

(vi) In order to meet the needs of physically handicapped people, others with mobility difficulties and those with young children, 10% of all car spaces shall be provided to 'mobility standard' (minimum width 3.6 metres). No less than 60% of these spaces shall be signed as being for the exclusive use of disabled persons.

(vii) Local Planning Guidance Note 5 deals with parking standards for the Conversion of Dwellings to Houses in Multiple Occupation.

Additional information on Parking Standards

For further information contact:

Chief Planning Officer, Lambpit Street, Wrexham, LL11 1AR.

Email: Planning@wrexham.gov.uk

Tel: 01978 292013
Fax: 01978 292502

Adopted November 2000
Revised October 2005

LPG Note 16 - Parking Standards

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Additional information on Parking Standards

5 - Conversion of Dwellings to Houses in Multiple Occupation

15 - Cycling

Guidance Note index