Policy information sourced from The London Plan 2021

T6.1 Residential parking

New residential development should not exceed the maximum parking standards set out in Table 10.3. These standards are a hierarchy with the more restrictive standard applying when a site falls into more than one category.

Parking spaces within communal car parking facilities (including basements) should be leased rather than sold.

All residential car parking spaces must provide infrastructure for electric or Ultra-Low Emission vehicles. At least 20 per cent of spaces should have active charging facilities, with passive provision for all remaining spaces.

Outside of the CAZ, and to cater for infrequent trips, car club spaces may be considered appropriate in lieu of private parking. Any car club spaces should have active charging facilities.

Large-scale purpose-built shared living, student accommodation and other sui generis residential uses should be car-free.

The provision of car parking should not be a reason for reducing the level of affordable housing in a proposed development.

Disabled persons parking should be provided for new residential developments. Residential development proposals delivering ten or more units must, as a minimum:

  • ensure that for three per cent of dwellings, at least one designated disabled persons parking bay per dwelling is available from the outset
  • demonstrate as part of the Parking Design and Management Plan, how an additional seven per cent of dwellings could be provided with one designated disabled persons parking space per dwelling in future upon request as soon as existing provision is insufficient. This should be secured at the planning stage.

All disabled persons parking bays associated with residential development must:

  • be for residents’ use only (whether M4(2) or M4(3) dwellings)
  • not be allocated to specific dwellings, unless provided within the curtilage of the dwelling
  • be funded by the payment of a commuted sum by the applicant, if provided on-street (this includes a requirement to fund provision of electric vehicle charging infrastructure)
  • count towards the maximum parking provision for the development
  • be designed in accordance with the design guidance in BS8300vol.1 
  • be located to minimise the distance between disabled persons parking bays and the dwelling or the relevant block entrance or lift core, and the route should be preferably level or where this is not possible, should be gently sloping (1:60-1:20) on a suitable firm ground surface.

For more information please see The London Plan 2021