Parking design guide

1. The basic premise in the setting of minimum parking guidelines is to ensure that all developments can accommodate the vehicles they attract on site, and no parking on the highway should occur.
2. Car parking must accommodate all frequent peaks in demand but will not be expected to cope with exceptional circumstances. Thus, for example, the parking guidelines for golf courses should provide for typical good weather weekends, but would not allow for an international golf tournament. Certain events which occur for less than 14 days per year do not require planning permission, and the same general approach is used by the highway authority in setting these parking guidelines.
3. In assessing the needs of a development, an allowance is made for likely growth in traffic attracted over the first ten years. Most new buildings will last for longer than this, but traffic forecasts for the distant future are unreliable. Traffic using retail developments in particular may fluctuate due to competition.
4. Planning permission is usually given for the type of development rather than a specific occupier. Where a specific occupier has non-standard parking requirements it may be possible for the development to be designed to meet them, but the highway authority would request appropriate conditions to be attached to the planning permission. Thus in order not to constrain the future use of the buildings it is usually preferable to adopt normal parking guidelines.
5. The main exceptions to the basic premise of paragraph 1 are as follows:
   • developments with major shared parking areas. These usually occur in town centres, often with major public car parks controlled by the local authority. Provided that any development proposals can be accommodated by the shared parking, individual parking spaces for the new or redeveloped site will not be required. Typical exceptions that could be considered are restaurants, bars, some leisure facilities and similar developments
   • education establishments. The parking provision (based on previous standaids), at schools has proved to be totally inadequate to accommodate the demand of parents for short term parking to set down and pick up students. This demand is concentrated into two short periods of the day and can lead to unacceptable levels of traffic congestion and reductions in road safety on the highway network in the vicinity of the school. Due to the often restricted nature of school sites it is recognised that the total demand for short term parking cannot always be satisfied without serious detrimental effects on the provision of other necessary educational facilities at the school and that a level of on street parking will have to be accepted at some locations. However provision should be made for the operational parking for staff and general visitors at all schools
   • parking restraint areas. In these areas, parking provision at B1 and some older land use types will be restricted to operational needs only and parking for those with a mobility handicap (see Section 3). Developers may be required to provide, or contribute to the provision of, parking space elsewhere, which may be at a park and ride site on the periphery of the urban area. For B1 the parking for operational purposes is one tenth of the normal parking requirement
   • conservation areas and historic buildings. Parked vehicles may spoil the setting of special or historic buildings thus normal parking requirements may be relaxed in these areas provided that safety is not compromised
6. For the purposes of the application of these principles, “Gross Floor Area” is defined as the total area of a building, as measured externally. In calculating the scale of car parking provision, due allowance has been made for the parts of buildings which are not available for the predominant use, e.g. lift shafts, stairwells, plant rooms and circulation space.
7. Where a building is used for a number of separate or mixed uses, (e.g. shops and flats), the appropriate car parking requirement will be considered in each case. Where, however, a number of uses occur ancillary to a main use in a single planning unit (e.g. office and store ancillary to a shop), the appropriate car parking requirement for the whole development will be that attributable to the main use.
8. For the purposes of calculating tire appropriate provision of car parking, fractions of car spaces shall be ignored and the requirements rounded up to the nearest whole number.
9. Where a development involves multi-storey or underground car parking, the proposed layouts should conform with “Design Recommendations for Multi-storey and Underground Cai- Parks” published by the Institute of Structural Engineers.
10. The dimensions of parking and turning facilities for Heavy Goods Vehicles shall be provided in accordance with the Freight Transport Association’s publication “Design for Deliveries”.
11.  Full landscaping proposals for parking areas must be submitted with all applications. Planting should be used in parking areas to relieve the monotony of large tarmac/paved areas; and to provide visual features. Grass, ground cover plants, shrubs and trees should be pollution-resistant varieties, and in the case of trees should not be liable to heavy leaf-fall, fruit dropping or branch shredding. Care should be taken that planting does not obscure sight lines at junctions or reduce the effective length or width of the parking spaces.
12. Cycle parking facilities should be provided at locations such as shopping centres, transport interchanges, office complexes, public buildings and tourist attractions. They must be located in a secure environment where they are highly visible and frequently observed. Good lighting is important and the location of stands should be clearly signposted.
13. The provision of cycle parking facilities should:
    • help to eliminate the haphazard chaining of cycles to railings and lampposts
    • remove unsightly clutter and reduce inconvenience to pedestrians and the blind
    • assist greater utilisation of cycle routes by removing one of the factors which discourage cycling:
      lack of a safe place to leave a cycle at the end of a trip
    • reduce the incidence of theft of cycles and accessories 
14.  Cyclists needs will vary between short, medium and long stay requirements:
    • Short/medium-term parking (visits up to 2 hours in duration) - a small number of racks at frequent intervals will be better used than a large group and should ideally be placed no more than 30m from the destination.
    • Long-term parking (visits longer than 2 hours) - long term parking should be located so as to enable formal supervision. Where possible, it should be protected from weather and provide secure locking systems. Ideally it should be located no more than 70m from the destination. There may be a demand for shower facilities.
15. The preferred cycle stands are shown in Figures 1 and 2 of Appendix 1. The “Sheffield Type” (Figure 1) design supports the cycle frame, takes locks easily and enables both wheels to be secured against theft with out risking damage to the cycle and should be used for all long term parking. Given judicious spacing this type of stand can accommodate 2 cycles per stand (1 on either side) and Figures 3 and 4 show typical parking stand layouts. The wall stand is primarily for short term parking or where space is limited.

1. Car parking for the disabled must be provided in any situation where the public are likely to use a building. It should be close to the main pedestrian access to the building and laid out in accordance with the dimensions indicated in Appendix 1. By avoiding the use of steps and steep gradients, access to buildings will be facilitated for the elderly and parents with young children, as well as the disabled. If a proposed development is of a type likely to be visited by disabled people, special parking and access arrangements will need to be shown as part of the detailed application for planning permission. Developers and designers are reminded of the requirement of Building Regulations - Part M - to provide satisfactory access for disabled people to certain buildings.
2. Car parking for disabled people should be:
   •  provided at developments likely to be visited by disabled people in accordance with the following guidelines:
     • for employment premises including schools and colleges:
       • up to 200 spaces - ratio of 5% of all spaces (minimum of 2 spaces)
       • over 200 spaces - minimum of 6 spaces plus a ratio of 2% of all spaces
     • for public parking at shopping, leisure and recreational premises:
       • up to 200 spaces - ratio of 6% of all spaces (minimum of 3 spaces)
       • over 200 spaces - minimum of 4 spaces plus ratio of 4% of all spaces
   • located close to an accessible entrance
   • ideally under cover
   • in pedestrianised areas, located within 50 metres of destination if die route is uncovered, or 100 metres if the route is covered
   • via dropped kerbs and ramps in order that wheelchair access from the parking bay to the building can be achieved
   • wide enough for wheelchair transfer to and from the car
   • clearly designated for use by disabled people and signposted at the car park entrance

1. general residential

Provision of spaces for general residential properties

Property capacity	Spaces in curtilage	Spaces nearby
1 bed house or flat	1	1
1 bed house or flat	2	0
1 bed house or flat	0	1.5
2 bed house or flat	1	1.5
2 bed house or flat	2	0.5
2 bed house or flat	with garage +1	0.5
3 bed house or flat	2	1
3 bed house or flat	with garage +1	1
3 bed house or flat	3	0
4 or 5 bed house or flat	with double garage +2	0
4 or 5 bed house or flat	with garage +2	1

2. flat conversions

As appropriate guidelines above

3. elderly persons’ rest homes and nursing homes

The bed space calculation will be based on the standards adopted by the council's social services department for single and double rooms for elderly residents and likewise the Aiea Health Authority standard for nursing homes. Owner’s bed space provision will be based on the council’s flat conversion standard.

1 space per 4 Bed spaces
+1 space per resident staff member
+1 space per 2 non-resident staff member

4. sheltered flats (with wardens' accommodation)

Car parking for sheltered flats will be on the same basis as ordinary flats where developers insist on the minimum age of purchasers to be of state retirement age or less, such parking standards will not be relaxed except where the age group of purchasers is restricted to the extent the the following lower provision is justified.

5. houses with multiple occupancy (HMOs)

1 space per 2 units +2 spaces per wardens' flat

1 space per 2 habitable rooms

Footnote

Disabled parking provision must be included (see Section 3)

1. use Class A1 - retail development

1.1 food and non-food retail

500 metre squared gross floor area (GFA) or less:

• 1 space per 20 metre squared
• +1 staff space per 100 metre squared
• +1 HGV space per 500 metre squared

1.2 food retail

500 to 5,000 metre squared GFA:

• 1 space per 10 metre squared
• +1 staff space per 100 metre squared
• +1 HGV space per 500 metre squared

5,000 to 10,000 metre squared GFA:

• 1 space per 10 metre squared
• +1 staff space per 100 metre squared
• +1 HGV space per 750 metre squared

Over 10,000 metre squared GFA:

• 1 space per 10 metre squared
• +1 staff space per 100 metre squared
• +1 HGV space per 1000 metre squared

1.3 non-food retail

Over 500 metre squared GFA:

• 1 space per 20 metre squared
• +1 staff space per 100 metre squared
• +1 HGV space per 1000 metre squared

1.4 garden centres

Covered area (GFA) and outside area:

• 1 space per 20 metre squared
• +1 space per 30 metre squared
• +1 HGV space per 500 metre squared

2. use Classes A2 and B1 to B8 - commercial development

2.1 offices, banks, building societies, estate agents and similar establishments

First 300 metre squared GFA and remainder of GFA over 300 metre squared:

• 1 space per 20 metre squared
• +1 space per 30 metre squared
• +10% for visitor parking

2.2 light industrial, hitech

First 300 metre squared GFA and remainder of GFA over 300 metre squared:

• 1 space per 20 metre squared
• +1 space per 30 metre squared
• +10% for visitor parking
• +1 HGV space per 500 metre squared

2.3 general industrial

First 300 metre squared GFA and remainder of GFA over 300 metre squared:

• 1 space per 20 metre squared
• +1 space per 30 metre squared
• +10% for visitor parking
• +1 HGV space per 200 metre squared

2.4 storage and distribution

This standard is only used for stand alone units not located on industrial estates:

• 1 space per 100 metre squared GFA
• +1 HGV space per 225 metre squared GFA

3. motor repair garages, car showrooms and service stations

Provision of spaces for motor repair garages, car showrooms and service stations

Facility	Provision
Showrooms	1 space per 90 metre squared GFA
Workshops	1 space per 15 metre squared GFA
Stores	1 space per 35 metre squared GFA
Offices	1 space per 30 metre squared GFA
Shops	1 space per 20 metre squared GFA
Motorist centres (tyre and exhaust fitting - non-appointment system)	2 space per repair bay +1 space per 2 staff members
Filling stations	Space for 5 cars to wait per car wash +1 space per 2 staff members +1 space per 20 metre squared GFA for shop

Footnote

Disabled parking provision must be included (see Section 3)

1. places of worship

1 space per 5 metre squared

2. libraries

Where a library is sited in a shopping centre, the public would be expected to make use of existing public car parking facilities and the only parking required for the library would be for operational purposes. The only exception would be where the library was sited apart from shopping facilities and there was no safe parking nearby, in these cases a visitor parking provision of 1 space per 25 metre squared will be required.

Minimum number of car parking spaces to be provided at libraries

Gross floor area (GFA):	Less than 150 metre square	Less than 200 metre squared	Less than 300 metre squared	Less than 400 metre squared	More than 400 metre squared
Visitors	5	8	11	15	20
Disabled	1	1	2	2	3
Staff	1	2	2	3	4

3. public houses and licensed clubs

For the predominant drinking area: 1 space per 2.5 metre squared GFA

For the restaurant and lounge area: 1 space per 5 metre squared GFA

4. restaurants

1 space per 5 metre squared GFA

5. hotels and guest houses

1 space per bedroom plus provision for managerial staff

(Bar and restaurant parking is to be calculated using the appropriate standards.)

6. theatres and assembly halls

Provision of spaces at theatres and assembly halls

Facility	Provision
Theatres and cinemas	1 space per 3 seats +1 space per 3 staff members
Bingo halls	1 space per 10 seats +1 space per 3 staff members
Disco halls	1 space per 10 metre GFA +1 space per 3 staff members
Community centres and halls	1 space per 5 metre squared GFA plus staff parking to be judged on individual merit
Conference centres	1 space per 3 seats or 1 space per 10 metre squared GFA +1 coach space per 50 seats +1 space per 3 staff members

7. sports

Provision of spaces at sports facilities

Facility	Provision
Sports halls	1 space per 20 metre squared GFA
Football, hockey, rugby and cricket pitches	1 space per 2 players and officials +1 coach space per 4 pitches
10-pin bowling	4 space per lane (Bar and Restaurant parking is to be calculated using the appropriate standards)
Bowls	4 spaces per rink
Tennis courts	4 spaces per court
Square courts	3 spaces per court
Swimming pools and ice rinks	1 space per 10 metre squared pool/rink +1 space per 2 staff members
Swimming pools and ice rink - for centres that expect large numbers of spectators	1 space per 4 seats or 1 space per 8 metre squared GFA (spectator area)
Health clubs	1 space per 7 metre squared GFA
Golf courses	4 spaces per hole (Bar and restaurant parking is to be calculated using the appropriate standards)
Golf driving range	1.5 spaces per tee
Marinas	1.5 spaces per berth +1 trailer space per 10 berths (Bar and restaurant parking is to be calculated using the appropriate standards)
Camping sites	1 space per pitch (on pitch) +1 visitor space per 10 pitches (adjacent to office) +1 space per 2 staff members (Bar and restaurant parking is to be calculated using the appropriate standards)

Footnote

Disabled parking provision must be included (see Section 3)

1. doctors, dentists and veterinary surgeries

1 space per GP:

• +1 space per ancillary medical staff
• +1 space per 2.5 ancillary staff (non-medical)
• +2 spaces per consulting room (appointment system) or 4 spaces per consulting room (no appointment system)

Notes:

• the car parking provision should be available for professional staff, ancillary/support staff and patients
• a nurse room should be counted as a consulting room

2. general hospitals

Provision of parking spaces at general hospitals

Facility	Provision
Inpatient	1.25 spaces per bed
Day surgery	1.5 spaces per bed
Outpatient	5 spaces per suite
Accident units	Minimum of 5 spaces +1 additional space for every 5,000 attendances planned per annum
Diagnostic X-ray	5 spaces per X-ray room

3. private hospital and hospices

2 spaces per bed

Notes:

1. At a preliminary planning stage, prior to detailed consideration, health care provision on site to a standard of 2 spaces per bed would be appropriate
2. The above standards include parking for staff, hospital administration, management, visitors and patients.
3. These standards represent those which the Highway Authority would, wish to achieve as a county standard. It is recognised that in applying these standards to a particular site sensitivity will be required, according to the merits and constraints of the site.
4. The Highway Authority will wish to ensure that long stay car parking spaces are allocated for staff parking requirements and that suitable parking is available for patients and visitors. Overall, long stay parking for staff should be displaced to more remote parts of the site, whilst parking for visitors and patients should be located within easy walking distance of health care, facilities.
5. Whilst not wishing to prescribe the exact proportion of staff spaces allocated, the Highway Authority would expect this to approximate to half the total car parking provision.
6. Areas should be allocated not only for ambulances but also taxis, hospital helpers and relatives to pick up/set down patients close to entrances.
7. For non-hospital administration and management the appropriate office or educational establishment standard should be applied. This includes:
   • regional and district health authorities
   • consultants offices
   • social services offices (community hospitals only)
   • post graduate medical centres (general Hospitals only)
   • nurse colleges
   • research units
   • community health units
8. Whilst it is not intended to apply the above standards retrospectively to a whole site, a proposal to redevelop part of an existing site should not result in a loss of parking available to the other facilities on-site.

1. schools

1 space per FTE (teaching) staff member:

• +10% for visitor parking
• 1 space per 10 pupils for setting down and picking up
• 1 space per 10 pupils for student parking (for students over the age of 17 years)

2. colleges and language schools

1 space per FTE (teaching) staff member:

• +10% for visitor parking
• 1 space per 4 students

Note: where it can be shown that there is a high usage of public transport by students or they are bussed to the establishment, then the level of parking required for setting down or picking up or for student parking will be reviewed.

3. halls of residence

1 space per 2 habitable rooms

Footnote

Disabled parking provision must be included (see Section 3)

Cycle parking provision

Facility	Provision
General retail	1 space per 45 metre squared gross floor area (GFA) +1 staff space per 45 metre squared GFA
General office	1 space per 1,000 metre squared GFA +1 staff space per 200 metre squared GFA
General industrial First 200 metre squared	1 space per 45 metre squared GFA
General industrial Up to 1,000 metre squared	+1 space per 250 metre squared GFA
General industrial Up to 5,000 metre squared	+1 space per 800 metre squared GFA
Storage and distribution First 200 metre squared	1 space per 45 metre squared GFA
Storage and distribution Up to 1,000 metre squared	+1 space per 250 metre squared GFA
Storage and distribution Up to 5,000 metre squared	+1 space per 800 metre squared GFA
Libraries and museums	1 space per 100 metre squared GFA +1 staff space per 200 metre GFA
Public houses, restaurants and licensed clubs	1 space per 10 metre squared GFA
Hotels and guest houses	1 space per 10 beds +1 staff space per 10 beds
Theatres, cinemas and assembly halls	1 space per 50 seats +1 staff space per 100 seats
Sport and leisure centre	1 space per 10 players +1 staff space per 4 staff members
General health establishments	1 space per 10 beds
Educational establishments	1 space per 5 students

Figure 1. parking spaces for those with mobility issues

Notes:

1. Ambulant disabled user - only where space is limited. Full width for wheelchair user preferred, particularly in public car parks.
2. Wheelchair user.
3. Marked out shared space between two standard bays.
4. Standard end bay with long side open for access.

Figure 2. parking space, garage and forecourt dimensions

Figure 3. parking areas

Standard spaces

Angled spaces

Note: Car spaces can only be interlocked properly at 45°. Angled parking spaces should be on a one-way system.

Note: landscaping proposals should be submitted with ail applications in accordance with details indicated in Section 2.

Cycle parking facilities

Typical cycle parking stand layout

Note: the dimensions given in the following figures will give an optimum use of space. If closer spacing is used, problems may arise because of carelessly parked cycles obstructing some stands. Dimensions may be increased where space is not limited.

If you require these technical drawings and dimensions in an alternative format, please contact the Highway Development Team.