Policy information sourced from St Albans District Local Plan

39 Parking Standards, General Requirements

Development proposals shall include off-street parking provision in accordance with the following criteria:

  1. Land uses covered by Policies 40 and 43-49. The relevant standard shall normally he complied with. However, requirements may be adjusted to reflect the circumstances of individual developments, particularly in respect of criteria (3) and (5) below;
  2. Land uses not covered by Policies 40 and 43-49. Applicants must demonstrate that sufficient parking is proposed for the long-term needs of the development;
  3. Highways and environmental considerations. Proposals must comply with Policy 34 and be acceptable in terms of visual impact, landscaping and amenity of adjoining properties. Landscaping and screening improvements may be required. Access roads and parking areas must not detract from the setting of listed buildings and conservation areas, or substantially reduce the amenity of private gardens;
  4. Underground car parking. In St. Albans City Centre and Harpenden Town Centre, underground car parking will be encouraged where appropriate;
  5. Changes of use and extensions. Parking provision shall reflect the additional number of spaces required for the new use or the extension. It will not normally he necessary to make good any shortfall that may already exist on the site. However, full standards must be met if comprehensive redevelopment takes place;
  6. Employee/staff numbers. Employee or staff number based parking requirements in Policies 43, 45, 48 and 49 shall be derived from estimated peak period staffing of the building;
  7. Fractions of parking spaces. Where a calculation of parking space requirements results in a fraction of a space, the figure shall be rounded up to the nearest whole number (half spaces shall be rounded up);
  8. Bicycles and motor cycles. Parking provision may be required in larger developments;
  9. Parking layout. All parking areas must be clearly marked out in bays. Parking spaces shall be a minimum of 2.4 x 4.8 metres. At least 6 metres is required between rows of spaces, or 7.3 metres in the case of garages or car ports. Where spaces are provided in lay-bys or on the public highway, bay lengths shall be 6 metres. All spaces must be capable of independent use, with the exception of spaces provided for the exclusive use of one dwelling where a degree of doubling up is acceptable (e.g. a garage with parking space in front of it);
  10. Parking for disabled people. Policy 50 shall be complied with.

For more information please see the Local Plan