PLANNING GUIDANCE NOTE NO.
14
CAR PARKING STANDARDS
Consideration will be given to the following factors:-
1. STATUS OF ADJOINING HIGHWAY
(a) On major traffic routes means of access
should normally be kept to a mininum. Use
of existing means of access should be
encouraged where possible.
(b) Space should be provided to allow
vehicles to enter and leave the site in a
forward direction; in all cases affecting a
classified road and elsewhere wherever
possible.
(c) Consideration will be given to the ability
of an adjoining road to accommodate the
extra traffic flows that may be generated
by the provisionof a car park.
2. PROVISION OF PUBLIC CAR PARKING
FACILITIES IN THE VICINITY
In some town and district centres provision of
on-site private car parking provision may threaten
matters of townscape or may conflict with
pedestrianisation or traffic flow policies. In such
circumstances preference will generally be given
to the use of public car parking facilities.
Provision of private non-operational car parking
will generally be discouraged and in certain
circumstances it may be considered that private
operational car parking would also be
inappropriate. Where substantial new
development is proposed and on-site car parking
is considered inappropriate, developers may be
required to contribute to the provision of public
car parking facilities in accordance with the
criteria set out in the Department of the
Environment Circular 22/83.
PLANNING AND LEISURE DEPARTMENT
3. PARTICULAR REQUIREMENTS
1. Operational and non-operational
The standards which follow refer to operational
and non-operational car parking. These may be
defined as follows:-
Operational parking space means the space
required for the cars and other vehicles regularly
and necessarily involved in the operation of the
business of particular buildings, including
commercial vehicles servicing the buildings.
Non-operational parking space means the space
required for the traffic which does not need to
park or wait precisely at the premises in
question. The term includes the cars of
commuting employees as well as those
belonging to shoppers, business callers and
sight-seers.
2. Housing conversions
The council is committed to supporting
improvement in the quality of the housing stock.
Whereas the provision of car parking in
accordance with these standards is desirable when
existing properties are being converted into flats,
schemes will not be automatically rejected
because the published standard cannot be met due
to the constraints of the site. Individual
proposals will be looked at on their merts, taking
account of the existing use, the benefits of the
development, and any nuisance or danger
anticipated from on-street parking in reaching a
balanced decision.
 CATEGORY REQUIREMENT

OPERATIONAL NON-OPERATIONAL

1. Residential

(a) Private Houses N/A 1 space per dwelling (1-2

bedrooms)
+
1 visitors space per two dwellings

2 spaces per dwelling (3 bedrooms)

(b) One bedroom flats Proposals for blocks of flats should 1 space per dwelling
show adequate space for +
manoeuvring refuse collecting 1 visitors space per 5 dwellings
vehicles, separate from car parking
spaces, if combined bin stores are
provided more than 25m from the
highway. Such area shall be made
up to a specification adequate to
bear a H.G.V.

(c) Two bedroom flats As for (b) 3 spaces per 2 dwellings

(d) Dwellings converted into two N/A 1 space per unit

or more separate dwelling
units.

(e) Accommodation for the (i) Space for - (i) 1 space per 4 dwelling units
elderley: (i) sheltered Ambulance, doctors' / nurses +
(ii) other cars. 1 spsce per unit of staff
(ii) As for (i) accommodation

(ii) 1 space per 2 dwelling units

(f) Residential nursing homes Space for ambulances. 1 space per unit of staff
accommodation
+
1 space per 3 bedspaces

(g) Hostels Space for ambulance 1 space per unit of staff

accommodation
+
1 space per 4 bedspaces
N.B In each case car spaces should be located in positions which are more convenient than parking on the
highway and should be positioned so as to be viewed from the accommodation they serve. Communal
parking areas should not exceed a maximum of 12 parking spaces.

PLANNING AND LEISURE DEPARTMENT

 CATEGORY REQUIREMENT

OPERATIONAL NON-OPERATIONAL

2. Industry 1 lorry space (45m2) up tp 280m2
(3000 sq ft.) gross after which 1
additional lorry space(45m2) per
1000m2 gross.
1 space : 28m2 (300 sq.ft.) for the
first 280m2 (3000sq.ft.)
after which
1 space : 70m2 (770 sq.ft)

3. Warehouses 2 lorry spaces (45m2 each) up to 1 space : 56m2 (600 sq.ft.) for the
(not including retail/Cash 280m2 (3000sq.ft) after which 1 first 280m2 (3000 sq.ft.)
and Carry warehouses additional lorry space (45m2) per after which
which would be treated as 500m2 gross.
shops.) 1 space : 140m2 (1,540 sq.ft.)

Categories 2 and 3 do not relate to business primarily concerned with

the operation repair or storage of vehicles where a higher standard
would be applied at the discretion of the LPA.

4. Shopping Gross floorspace Minimum Staff : 1 space per 100m2

not exceeding:- loading and (1,100 sq.ft.) gross
unloading space
Customers : 1 space per 20m2 (215
2 2
500m 50m sq.ft.) gross
1,000m2 100m2
2,000m2 150m2

5. Banks, Buiding Societies Space for security van Staff : 1 space per 30m2 (325
and other financial sq.ft) gross
services used by the
public. Customers 1 space per 10m2
(110sq.ft.) of Public
floor space of the
banking hall.

6. Offices Gross floorspace Minimum 0 - 255m2 (2,400 sq.ft.) : 1 space

not exceeding:- loading and per 28m2
unloading space (300
sq.ft.)
100m2 50m2
250m2 75m2 after which : 1 space
per 50m2
(550
sq.ft.)

PLANNING AND LEISURE DEPARTMENT

 CATEGORY REQUIREMENT
OPERATIONAL
7. Museums, Galleries and Minimum space for loading and
Libraries unloading 50m2 (550 sq.ft.)
8. Schools Adequate space should be allocated
for coaches which may be used
either to bring children to school or
for school trips. For large schools
an on-site traffic flow system
should be provided to accomodate a
larger number of vehicles.
Where on-site provision cannot be
made it must be clearly shown that
on-street parking of coaches will
not detrimentally affect the free
flow of traffic on the highway.
For special schools space shall be
allocated for mini buses/ambulances
adjacent to the entrance of the
school building.
9. Establishment of further
education and training
10. Hospitals Space shall be reserved for
ambulances adjacent to main
entrance.
Space shall be allocated for large
delivery or refuse lorries which
shall be accessed in a manner which
avoids conflict with access ways
required by ambulance.
PLANNING AND LEISURE DEPARTMENT
NON-OPERATIONAL
1 space 30m2 (330 sq.ft.) of gross
floor space
(Staff car parking spaces to be
worked out on basis of 1 space per
30m2 (330 sq.ft.) net office area not
open to the public).
1 space : 1 member of staff
Access shall be provided to a hard
surfaced play area which may be
used for car parking on open days
etc. or when the school is used for
community purposes.
1 space : 1 member of staff and
1 space : 5 students
Visitors spaces should be positioned
to allow convenient access to
different parts of the hospital
thereby discouraging parking which
may conflict with medical staff or
ambulance requirements.
1 visitors space : 10 beds
1 space for staff : 50m2 (550
sq.ft.)
1 space : 15 residential
nurses
 CATEGORY REQUIREMENT
OPERATIONAL NON-OPERATIONAL

11. Surgeries and Clinics 1 doctors space per consulting or 3 spaces : consulting or treatment
treatment room/cubicle. room/cubicle

12. Theatres , Cinemas, Bingo Minimum loading and unloading 1 space : 10 seats
Halls and Concert/ area:
Assembly Halls.
50m2 (550 sq.ft.)

13. Places of worship 1 space : 10 seats

14. Hotels and Motels Gross floorspace Minimum 2 spaces : residential staff unit
not exceeding: loading/ +
unloading space: 1 space : bedromm
+
500m2 100m2 1 space : 3.25m2 (35 sq.ft.) of
1,000m2 150m2 public drinking area.
2,000m2 170m2

15. Restaurants Minimum loading unloading area: 1 space : 3 seats

50 m2 (550 sq.ft.)

16. Transport Cafe's (as for restaurants) 1 lorry space (45m2/500sq.ft.) :

2 seats
The parking area must be laid out to
allow lorries to enter and leave the
site in forward gear.

17. Public Houses, Clubs and (as for restaurants) 1 space : 3.25m2 (35 sq.ft.)
Dance Halls and public area
Community Centres. +
space for parking a coach if
appropriate.
+
2 spaces: residential staff unit

18. Sports Halls and Swimming Minimum loading and unloading 1 space : 10m2 (110 sq.ft.) pool
Pools (including Ice Rinks area: or playing area.
and Bowling Alleys. 50m2 (550 sq.ft.)
(If the sports facilities can be
transformed into a Concert/
Assembly Hall the standard which
demands the highest number of car
parking spaces shall be required).

PLANNING AND LEISURE DEPARTMENT

 CATEGORY REQUIREMENT
OPERATIONAL NON-OPERATIONAL

19. Sports facilities and Playing Minimum loading and unloading 1 space : every two players able
Fields area: to use the facilities at
any one time
50m2 (550 sq.ft.)

20. Garages and Service a) Space for breakdown Staff:

Stations vehicle(s)
1 space : 50m2 (550 sq.ft. of
b) 4 spaces : service bay gross floor space)
(45m2/500 sq.ft. each in the
case of commercial vehicle
repairers.)

c) Space for 3 cars to wait if car

wash facilities are provided.

21. Petrol Filling Stations a) Space for petrol tanker which Staff:
will not interface with use of
pumps by patrons and will 1 space : 50m2 (550 sq.ft. of
allow tankers to enter and gross floor space)
leave site in a forward gear.

b) Space for 3 cars to wait if car

wash facilities are provided.

22. Car Sales Minimum loading and unloading 1 space : 50m2 (550sq.ft.)
area:

50m2 (550 sq.ft.)

23. Transport, bus or coach Site must be arranged to allow 1 space : lorry, 3 bus or coach
depots lorries, buses or coaches to enter spaces
and leave in forward gear.

PLANNING AND LEISURE DEPARTMENT