AIM
To provide a range of residential accommodation, while minimising traffic generation and enabling space which would otherwise be used to park cars to be used for other purposes.
POLICY
The Council supports the development of car free housing on suitable sites. Proposals for car free housing will be considered against the following criteria.
SITE CRITERIA
The Council will only be able to control parking in the surrounding area when developments are located within existing restricted or controlled parking zones (see Controlled Parking Zones Map). In order for the policy to apply, developments that are to be car free must therefore be located within one of these areas.
Sites must also have:
PARKING/SERVICING PROVISION
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No parking should be provided within the site for residents, except for limited parking at the site edge for car sharing scheme use (see policy TRANS 4: Vehicle Parking Standards).
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A servicing bay, large enough for a delivery lorry, should be provided at the site edge.
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Entry into the site, if required for bin lorries, emergency vehicles, etc., should be by means of an access with a control gate.
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Cycle storage should be provided at a rate of at least one space per dwelling.
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Parking on private internal roads and within property curtilages will be prohibited.
PARKING CONTROL MANAGEMENT
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Within site - the design of the scheme should positively discourage car entry and provide an entry control system limiting access. The title deeds/tenant’s agreement associated with property should restrict car parking within the site, other than for car sharing.
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Surrounding area - this is the responsibility of the Council through Controlled Parking Zone powers. Residents of all new (including car free) housing developments will be excluded from obtaining residents parking permits.
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The developer should establish arrangements for a residents’ committee to oversee the running of the development including access control and use of car sharing spaces. Consideration should also be given to arrangements for the occasional use of a car by residents, at short notice, for journeys where walking, cycling and public transport are unsuitable. This might take the form of a car sharing scheme or links to a local car hire company. The site could also be marketed to include the appropriate public transport yearly season ticket for the first year of occupation.
SITE LAYOUT AND DESIGN
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The site must be designed to be generally traffic free with priority given to pedestrians and cyclists.
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At least 50% of the reduced parking and road requirement needs to be shown to be used to benefit residents through, for example, higher levels of private and communal open space and the provision of higher space standards per dwelling. A high standard of greenspace provision for residents, including play facilities, where appropriate, must be provided.
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Safe pedestrian and cycle links should be provided to the pedestrian and cycle networks, public transport and to the nearest local shops and facilities.
Controlled Parking Zones
POLICY JUSTIFICATION
The policy supports the Plan’s Development Strategy to encourage the use of non-car transport modes (see Part 2, TRANSPORT, Vehicle Parking, paragraph 6.56). Scottish Planning Policy 17: Planning for Transport supports car free housing in appropriate locations. The reduction in road space and parking infrastructure within the development gives the opportunity for higher space standards and additional landscaping, which will provide a safer and more attractive environment for residents.