Government urges more parking provision...

Government urges more parking provision

The Department for Communities and Local Government is set to publish new planning guidance calling for more town centre car parking provision. The department also wants to see less street clutter and fewer road humps.

DCLG said the new planning guidance will push for more town centre parking spaces and propose measures to tackle the blight of ugly street clutter and aggressive ‘anti-car’ traffic calming measures like road humps.

The new practice guidance, covering design, town centres and travel plans, will state that councils should understand the important role appropriate parking facilities can play in rejuvenating shops, high streets and town centres.

It also sets out how town hall planning rules should not be used to tax drivers or justify development of crude traffic calming measures, such as poorly-sited bollards and road humps.

The new government guidance is part of a new ‘easy-to-use’ online guide that replaces 7,000 pages of previous planning documents. It has been developed following an external review to make planning more accessible to councillors and local residents.

Communities Secretary Eric Pickles said: “Draconian town hall parking policies and street clutter can make driving into town centres unnecessarily stressful and actually create more congestion because of lack of places to park. Anti-car measures are driving motorists into the arms of internet retailers and out of town superstores, taking their custom with them.

Access the Department for Communities and Local Government press release

Roger Milne
29 August 2013