Parking restraint areas and reduced standards

Planning Policy Statement 3 "Access, Movement and Parking" establishes a single set of parking standards for new development. However, it recognises that a reduced level of car parking provision may be acceptable in certain circumstances e.g. in locations well served by public transport. As part of an overall parking strategy, development plans may designate areas or zones within which a reduction of the published parking standards will be applied i.e. an area of parking restraint. It is unlikely in the short term that such areas will be brought forward in settlements of less than 10,000 population. In larger settlements, several zones with varying levels of reduction from the published parking standards, may be identified, to reflect the different character and level of accessibility. While greater opportunities exist to reduce levels of parking for developments in locations with good access by non-car modes, care will be required when setting different levels of parking between town centres and peripheral locations, to ensure that town centres remain a favoured location for investment.