Page 132 - All files for Planning Inspectorate

Motion response to MSDC Parking query

The parking provision at the site has been derived from the demands anticipated by the West Sussex
Car Parking Calculator, which predict a total demand for the development of 67 car parking
spaces. Whilst we note that the Mid Sussex Development Infrastructure and Contributions SPD and
the Ashurst Wood Neighbourhood Plan have higher parking standards, both suggest that a lower
provision can be acceptable if sufficient evidence is provided. The Mid Sussex SPD states that “where
a lower provision is proposed, this will need to be justified on site specific grounds”, with the Ashurst
Wood Neighbourhood Plan reflecting this position, stating “unless it can be satisfactorily
demonstrated that an alternative provision would be appropriate on a specific site.” Therefore,
whilst these documents provide minimum car parking standards, there is considered to be flexibility
within these parking standards to provide alternative levels of parking. It is therefore considered
incorrect to state that the development “would require 93 spaces on site” to meet the District
parking standards as stated within the Planning Officer’s email.

As the WSCC Car Parking Calculator is “a strongly evidence-led approach to residential parking in new
developments, to ensure that the number of parking spaces provided is appropriate to the location
and the characteristics of the development” (WSCC Guidance on Parking in New Residential
Development, 2010) which is based upon surveys of developments in the County, this is considered
to provide an evidence based approach to justify a lower car parking provision.

As an alternative, a review of the local car or van ownership levels has been investigated for the
Ashurst Wood ward to identify the existing car parking ownership levels in the area. It is noted that
the development proposes flats, which typically have a lower car ownership level than for
houses. Within the Ashurst Wood ward, the 2011 Census data identifies 116
flats/maisonettes/apartments and 1,012 houses. The Census breakdown is highlighted within the
table below with the car ownership proportion based on the existing Ashurst Wood ward flatted
developments.

Census Car Ownership Number of Proposed Potential Parking

Proportion Units Demand
No cars or Vans 18.1% 10 0
One Car or Van 60.3% 33 33

Two or More Cars or Vans 21.6% 12 24
TOTAL 100.0% 54 57

*Numbers may not add due to rounding of the percentages to whole numbers of units

The table above indicates that, based on the local flat car ownership trends, a 54 dwelling
development is likely to require 57 car parking spaces. As this predicted demand is below the WSCC
car parking calculator output, it is considered that the potential parking demands associated with
the development are likely to be far below the minimum parking standards set out within the Mid
Sussex SPD and the Ashurst Wood Neighbourhood Plan.

On this basis, providing a car parking layout of 67 spaces is considered to address the predicted
demands or the development, whilst ensuring an element of additional parking is available based on
the local car ownership trends. This parking provision is also in accordance with the Mid Sussex SPD
and the Ashurst Wood Neighbourhood Plan.

Bates No 000131