Oxfordshire County Council has announced that future developers will need to follow a revised list of regulations when installing parking provisions for new developments.
This week, the council cabinet approved the updated guide to parking provisions, which means developers will need to work in collaboration with the council to support the goals of the Local Transport and Connectivity Plan (LTCP).
The LTCP intends to create a net zero transport system in Oxfordshire by 2040, with the purpose of improving health and wellbeing, reducing environmental impact, cutting private vehicle use and prioritising journeys involving walking, cycling and public transport.
Duncan Enright, councillor and Oxfordshire County Council’s cabinet member for travel and development strategy, said: “We know that in future people are going to use cars less frequently.
“Our new standards place much more emphasis on cycles, shared car clubs, and public transport than on multiple cars per household.
“Striking the right balance by providing an appropriate level and type of parking, while also protecting highway safety for all users and promoting active and sustainable transport modes, is essential.
“We also need to be aware of the viability of new developments for developers and people who will live there.”
The idea behind the new measures is to monitor the level of parking installed at new developments and to inform the council’s guidance and policy for working with local planning authorities.
The council likewise hopes the initiative will help improve the availability of parking for bicycles and, accordingly, make it more popular.
Councillors plan to review issues raised by the scrutiny committee and bring an update back to cabinet before the end of the year.
