Travel to Work Group report - Appendix C

Bristol, Bath and NE Somerset, North Somerset, South Gloucestershire:- Draft New Guidance on Transport Requirements for New Developments, including Parking Standards; published November 1998

A draft document has been issued by the counties of the former County of Avon outlining their strategic planning and transport requirements for new developments. The two main objectives of the guidance are to:

• Further the use of alternative modes to the private car, and reduce future levels of car traffic; and
• Reduce the past stimulus to new development locating outside urban centres.

In essence the document details the amount of car parking that various types of new development will be permitted to include and makes special reference to Colleges and Universities. The document assumes that the quantity of parking provision is based upon two factors, on the one hand the access to public transport (including walking and cycling provision) and on the other the degree of congestion within a 3km radius. It is important to note that the document will only affect new or refurbished properties. As such the University need not be concerned about existing buildings being affected retrospectively.

Using the recommendations contained in the document (see table below, with the University precinct falling into the severe category), any new development by the University within the precinct would only be accepted by Bristol City Council with a maximum of 0.1 car parking space per employee and .05 per student. This relatively low level of provision is because the University has good public transport, walking and cycling provision and there is severe traffic congestion within 3km.

Number of car parking spaces that universities or colleges would be permitted under the new guidance (spaces per employee / per student)

The University has 4545 staff, of whom 3200 or so work in the University precinct. There are also about 12,000 students who study at the University. Calculations based on these figures indicate that the University would only be permitted 320 staff parking spaces and 600 student spaces. This is considerably less than the current provision of 1067 spaces. Students are not currently allowed to park in the precinct and it is not known if the number of spaces that the University would be permitted under the new planning regime would take account of this. The likely loss of Senate House and Old Park Hill car parks in the relatively near future will bring the number of spaces down to 900 or so.

The Synthetic Chemistry building, which is the University's most recent construction project has been permitted 17 car parking spaces for 180 postgraduate students and approximately 40 staff. If the draft guidance document becomes policy, then the University could in the future only expect 13 car parking spaces for a development of this sort.

The Guidance document also has implications for Halls or Residence at Stoke Bishop and Clifton and Langford Veterinary School. Langford currently has 435 car parking spaces, which is over twice the number that North Somerset Council would permit for a new development, even though public transport provision is poor and there is only mild road congestion. Clifton and Stoke Bishop Halls of Residence fare little better under the new guidance, which is detailed below. 531 parking spaces would certainly not be permitted at Stoke Bishop, although it is not clear how great a reduction would be required to fulfil the guidance requirements.

Number of car parking spaces that nursing homes, hostels, care facilities and sheltered accommodation would be permitted under the new guidance [Number of spaces per employee (nursing home) or per household (sheltered accommodation)]