Policy information sourced from the Guildford Local Plan: Develpment Managment Policies

ID10: Parking Standards for New Development

The parking standards in adopted Neighbourhood Plans, irrespective of when these were adopted, will take precedence over standards set by the Local Planning Authority in the Local Plan and Supplementary Planning Documents, should there be conflict, except in relation to strategic sites.

For strategic sites:

  • the provision of residential car parking, for use by residents themselves, will not exceed the maximum standards set out in Table B1;
  • the provision of additional unallocated parking, to allow for visitors, deliveries and servicing, at the ratio of 0.2 spaces per dwelling will only be required where 50% or more of the total number of spaces, provided for use by residents themselves, are allocated;
  • the provision of non-residential car parking will not exceed the maximum standards set out in Table B2;
  • the provision of electric vehicle charging will provide at least the minimum requirements set out in the Building Regulations (Part S); and
  • the provision of cycle parking will provide at least the minimum requirements set out in Table B3.

Tables B1- B3 can be found in Appendix B.

For non-strategic sites:

  • the provision of car parking in new residential development in Guildford town centre or suburban areas, for use by residents themselves, will have regard to the maximum standards set out in the Parking Standards for New Development SPD;
  • the provision of car parking in new residential development in village and rural areas, for use by residents themselves, will have regard to the expected standards set out in the Parking Standards for New Development SPD;
  • the provision of additional unallocated parking, to allow for visitors, deliveries and servicing, at the ratio of 0.2 spaces per dwelling will only be required where 50% or more of the total number of spaces, provided for use by residents themselves, are allocated;
  • the provision of non-residential car parking will have regard to the maximum standards set out in the Parking Standards for New Development SPD;
  • the provision of electric vehicle charging will provide at least the minimum requirements set out in the Building Regulations (Part S); and
  • the provision of cycle parking will have regard to the minimum requirements set out in the Parking Standards for New Development SPD.

For residential and non-residential development on strategic sites and also non-strategic sites in urban areas:

  • the provision of car and motorised vehicle parking at lower than the defined maximum standards must be justified by a coherent package of sustainable transport measures which will be proportionate to the level of reduction sought. Evidence will be expected to address:
    • generous provision of unallocated car parking as a proportion of all car parking spaces provided by the development proposal, where this enables more efficient use of land;
    • excellent quality of walking and cycling access to a local centre, district centre or Guildford town centre;
    • high public transport accessibility; and
    • planning obligations and/or on-street parking controls such that the level of any resulting parking on the public highway does not adversely impact road safety or the movement of other road users.
  • the provision of car-free development must be justified by a coherent package of sustainable transport measures. Evidence will be required to demonstrate:
    • excellent quality of walking and cycling access to a district centre or Guildford town centre;
    • high public transport accessibility;
    • access to a car club for residents and/or users;
    • that the car-free status of the development can be assured by planning obligations and/or on-street parking controls;
    • appropriate incentivisation of these measures; and
    • appropriate monitoring of these measures

For all sites:

  • car parking spaces external to a dwelling will be required to meet the minimum size requirements of 5 by 2.5 metres;
  • a garage will only count as providing a car parking space if it meets the minimum internal dimensions of 6 by 3 metres. A garage with the minimum internal dimensions of 7 by 3.3 metres will be considered to also have the capacity to park up to 2 cycles, allowing independent access. A garage with the minimum internal dimensions of 7 by 4 metres will be considered to have the capacity to park up to 5 cycles, allowing independent access. Alternate layouts for garages which can be demonstrated to provide equivalent or better space provision and access for a vehicle and cycles may be acceptable;
  • car parking spaces for disabled drivers will be designed and provided in accordance with national guidance;
  • development proposals will be required to demonstrate that the level of any resulting parking on the public highway does not adversely impact road safety or the movement of other road users.

For more information please see the Local Plan