1: Introduction

1.1. This Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) sets out guidance to developers and others in respect of both residential and non-residential developments, including:

a. Car parking standards for residential and non-residential development and their split across the District

b. Minimum cycle parking standards

c. Electric Vehicle parking provision

d. Design and quality of the environment

e. Advice on motorcycle and scooter parking

f. Guidance for provision of disabled persons' parking spaces

1.2. The Council has prepared this Parking Standards SPD to ensure that it remains in line with current national policy and supports the policies from the Local Plan 2016-2036 Part 1: Planning Strategy (adopted in July 2020). This Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) replaces the 2012 SPD "Parking Standards".

1.3. The parking standards within this SPD need to achieve sustainable development through a balance of meeting the parking needs of the District, ensuring land is used for this purpose effectively, and taking account of climate change as a key driver for change. This is achieved through helping to prioritise opportunities to walk, cycle and use public transport as an alternative to the use of a car, an example of how this SPD can contribute to is through requiring sufficient cycle parking provision in new development.

1.4. The Parking Standards SPD provides further guidance to the Local Plan for New Forest District (outside the National Park) and in the context of the Plan's strategic approach to achieving sustainable development, will assist in the implementation of policies in the adopted Local Plan 2016-2036 Part 1: Planning Strategy (July 2020) and Local Plan Part 2: Sites and Development Management (2014). As well as ensuring the requirements for the type and amount of parking provision contributes towards achieving sustainable development, Local Plan Part One policies it supports are:

1.5. The parking standards set out in this document apply to the New Forest District area (outside of the National Park) as shown in Map 1.

Map 1: The Plan Area - New Forest District outside the National Park shown with grey shading

1.6. The aims of the parking standards contained in this SPD are to ensure that an appropriate level of motor vehicle and cycle parking is provided in all new developments to avoid the various problems created by both over- and under-provision of parking.

1.7. Changing transport technology and usage, and the impacts of climate change are further key drivers for the SPD. This is exemplified though NFDC recent declaration of a Climate Change and Nature Emergency and currently preparing an action plan. Reducing emissions of all major air pollutants is a major challenge and transitioning to zero emission road transport will require long-term solutions to address this.