In general, residential areas and developments within the City Centre are well served by public transport. The City Centre is fairly compact and has a wide range of functions e.g. offices, shopping, leisure and cultural activities within comfortable walking distance of one another and of public transport facilities. It is desirable that future housing developments should be encouraged to be car-free or to provide limited parking provision.

However, if parking provision is required in association with residential developments in the City Centre, it should be provided in accordance with policy TRANS 4: Vehicle Parking Guidelines. Parking will be limited to the provision of one space per housing unit as part of any development. Visitor parking will not be permitted in view of the substantial supply of public parking within the area.

There will also be no minimum parking standard - it can be zero to reflect the high level of accessibility by all forms of public transport to most parts of the City Centre and the increased emphasis on improving the quality of the environment by encouraging a reduction in car use and movement.

Given the aim of improving the general quality of the physical environment of the area, residential development on sites that exhibit an exceptionally high level of public transport accessibility and frequency will be encouraged to be car-free (see policy RES 4: Car Free Housing).

In practice, most housing developments in the City Centre (especially conversions) do not attain the full permissible standard and the recent evidence of housing conversions or developments in the area is that they have either been listed buildings and/or they were contained mainly within the Central Conservation Area. In such circumstances, it would not be acceptable to sacrifice either the quality of the conversion and the character of listed buildings, or open space to accommodate parking provision.

Where no parking provision is proposed or provision is not practical or feasible (zero provision), the development will be regarded as car free. Affected residents may be ineligible under a future Residents Parking Permit scheme.

Where parking is provided in association with a residential development in the City Centre, however, and irrespective of the level of parking, spaces will be required to be allocated to a named address and that space should continue to be specifically linked to that address over time. This is specifically to avoid parking spaces being let or acquired for commuter use over the lifetime of the housing development and also to protect the security of residents.

1. In general, residential developments on sites well-served by public transport within the City Centre will be encouraged to be car free.

2. If parking provision for residential developments within the City Centre is required, provision should accord with policy TRANS 4:Vehicle Parking Guidelines (table1:1A(ii)). Parking will generally be permitted up to a basic guideline of 1:1. There will be no minimum standard. Parking provision could include zero provision. This standard will apply irrespective of the housing tenure proposed, and will apply to housing conversions, refurbishment and new build developments.

Note:

Where proposed developments provide parking less than the basic guideline, those residents occupying flats not allocated a parking space may be ineligible for an on-road parking permit under a future Residents Parking Permit Scheme.

Such parking provision as is provided in any given residential development will be allocated to a specific named flatted address within the development and the car park will continue to be specifically linked to that flat address over time. This must be reflected in the title deeds and in any management agreement assigned to a factor.

Parking provision for student flats and halls of residence should accord with policy TRANS 4: Table 1B.