Proposals for new housing and commercial developments will provide parking in accordance with CBC’s parking standards and have adequate on-site parking to meet current and future needs, unless alternative and accessible car parking arrangements can be made which do not add to on-street congestion.

New development should not result in the loss of publicly accessible off-street car parking. Developments which propose to remove off-street parking spaces will only be supported where the need for the spaces is no longer justified, or alternative provision is made which increases or maintains the number of accessible parking spaces available on or within the immediate vicinity of the site.

Where appropriate, new car parking and hardstandings will be constructed using permeable materials or surfacing to allow natural drainage and reduce the risk of surface water flooding.

Where existing car parks are renovated, new car parks proposed, or extensions made to existing car parks, an appropriate number of charging points must be provided to the level set out in Central Bedfordshire Council’s Electric vehicle charging: guidance for new developments - Supplementary Planning Document. Further provision of appropriate charging facilities in existing relevant locations will be encouraged.

For more information, please visit the Houghton Regis Neighbourhood Plan