Parking

8.10 The availability of parking at a destination can significantly affect the choice of travel mode. In the town centres of Bury St Edmunds and Haverhill there are a number of private non-residential car parks which, while being important to the function of existing businesses, can create significant vehicular movements. In many cases the use of this land for car parking is not necessarily the most efficient use of the site, especially as there is a good supply of off-street car parks in each town.

POLICY T4: PRIVATE NON-RESIDENTIAL PARKING

In addition to policies elsewhere in this Plan, proposals for development on private non-residential car parks in Bury St Edmunds or Haverhill Town Centres will be permitted.

8.11 The county council, in partnership with the Suffolk local planning authorities, has prepared revised Parking Standards in accordance with government guidance and, after extensive consultation, they have been adopted as Planning Guidance by the Borough Council and will be replaced with a Supplementary Planning Document. These are included in Appendix F.

POLICY T5: PARKING STANDARDS

Within proposals for development, including changes of use, provision for the parking of vehicles, including cycles and powered two-wheelers, will be required in accordance with the local planning authority’s adopted Parking Standards and subsequent Supplementary Planning Document.

As an exception, the local planning authority will not expect private non-residential car parking to be provided in conjunction with development in town centres.

8.12 The vitality and viability of the town centres in the borough is heavily reliant on the availability of car parking for shoppers. The St Edmundsbury Retail Appraisal has identified that the ratio of car parking spaces to retail floorspace in both Bury St Edmunds and Haverhill is high compared with other town centres in the region. The parking is managed primarily by the Borough Council and the pricing strategy is arranged to provide for short term parking nearest to the shopping centre. The Borough Council will continue to monitor the need for additional off-street car parking, balancing the need to manage the demand for travel with maintaining the vitality and viability of the town centres.

POLICY T6: OFF-STREET CAR PARKING

Proposals for additional off-street car parking in town centres should be accompanied by a demonstration that:-

• i) there is a need for the additional provision; and
  ii) sustainable travel solutions, including bus based park and ride, are not an available or viable alternative.

Additional parking provision should cater only for the needs of shoppers and visitors to the town centre.

8.13 In Clare on-street parking causes congestion at peak times. Previous studies to identify a site for an off-street car park have failed to find a suitable location. The Borough Council will continue to monitor levels of parking and work with the local community to review the need for parking to serve the town centre.