by Ray George
In the adopted City of Southampton Local Plan Review there is a table showing the maximum car parking standards for new developments. This table suggests that in the parts of our Conservation Area which are within 400 metres of the Southampton-Portswood-Eastleigh Public Transport Corridor, a three-bedroom house is entitled to 0.75 car parking spaces. The previous government’s policy was to encourage walking, cycling and the use of public transport by restricting car parking.
The present government’s policy is to provide parking which takes account of expected car ownership levels. The City Council has published a draft Parking Standards Supplementary Planning Document. The maximum provision for a three-bedroom house becomes 2 parking spaces. Some of this can be on-street parking. The consultation period closes on 22 August (link on our website).