Excessive parking provision

Parking provision in excess of the published standards will only be permitted in exceptional circumstances. For example it is recognised that in city and town centres a balance has to be struck between encouraging new investment by providing adequate levels of parking and potentially increasing traffic congestion caused by too many cars. Accordingly, where major retail or leisure developments are proposed in a town centre or an edge of centre site, parking provision additional to the normal standard may be considered acceptable. In such instances it must be demonstrated that the parking facilities will genuinely serve the town centre as a whole and a legal agreement to this effect will be required before planning permission is granted.