Parking Standards for New Developments Draft (Nov 2022)

Section 3: There is no provision for scooter or e-scooter parking in the standards for residential development; in many other countries e-scooting is becoming a very popular form of sustainable transport, especially for younger people. Whilst e-scooters are not yet legal to use on public roads outside of the designated trial areas in this country, the future direction is very clear: the UK Department For Transport has unveiled plans to create a new category for electric scooters, which will enable them to become legal and help the government meet its effort to become a more environmentally friendly country. Provision should therefore be included in this document for scooters (and once they are legal for use of the road, for e-scooters).

Section 4.8: The term 'older people' does not appear to be defined, this requirement appears very low and with no, or a very loose, definition, this could easilty be abused and used to circumvent the standards for residential development.

Section 4.9: In respect of an accessible location for car-free developments - this needs to include additional provision that route(s) must be safe and practical to use, e.g. segregated cycleways; unlit roads with no pavement, or soil based footpaths should not be considered 'safe and practical' to use.

Section 4.9: In respect of existing public transport for car-free developments - this needs to include that suitable provision must exist, or be made for, shift workers such as emergency services staff and healthcare workers who will need to travel very early or very late in the day.

Section 6.0: There is no provision for scooter or e-scooter parking in the standards for non-residential development; in many other countries e-scooting is becoming a very popular form of sustainable transport, especially for younger people. Whilst e-scooters are not yet legal to use on public roads outside of the designated trial areas in this country, the future direction is very clear: the UK Department For Transport has unveiled plans to create a new category for electric scooters, which will enable them to become legal and help the government meet its effort to become a more environmentally friendly country. Provision should therefore be included in this document for scooters (and once they are legal for use of the road, for e-scooters).

Section 6.5: Is the "5% of cycle parking at schools should be provided for non-standard cycles." an absolute fixed amount, a minimum or a maximum figure - I suspect this should say 'At least...'.

Section 6.5.2: Whilst the statement "Secondary school aged pupils are more likely to cycle to school than scoot, although there still may be some pupils that prefer to scoot. Pupils who are aged 16+ are more likely to cycle than scoot." is generally true outside of areas which are currently subject to the e-scooter trials, it is likely to change very rapidly once the regulatory framework for such e-scooters changes. Provision should be made for scooters and (once they are legal to use on the public highway) e-scooters within the parking provision for secondary schools, sixth forms, colleges, higher and further education.

The provision for not including single garages in the count of parking spaces is very welcome.