Agenda item

(1)       Concerns had been raised by the Kent Developers’ Group concerning the possible consequences of Interim Guidance Note 3: Residential Parking for homebuilding in Kent. The report advised members of how Kent Highway Services and the Kent Design Initiative were working with development partners to test the robustness of IGN3, and pointed to further consultation that would be undertaken as residential parking policies were developed at district level.

(2)       A more detailed report, which included details of the previously adopted standards (SPG4) and feedback from the Residential Parking Workshop held on 14 April 2010, was attached as an Appendix to the report. 

Kent Highway Services (KHS) was working with the district planning authorities to identify the zones within which the different approaches to residential parking should apply. The survey evidence underpins the work.

(3)       Ashford Borough Council had prepared detailed residential parking guidance, in the form of a draft Supplementary Planning Document (SPD), which was now out to consultation. The draft SPD was based on IGN3. Such detailed development of IGN3 fulfilled the requirements of PPS3 and provided developers and designers with a further opportunity to comment on new, design-led approaches that were aimed at preventing parking problems in future developments.  PPS3 placed the onus on local planning authorities      (- the district councils in Kent -) to prepare residential parking policies. KHS had offered to help with the local interpretation through the Local Development Framework process.

(4)       In response to the Kent Developers’ Group’s concerns, KHS and the Kent Design Initiative were working on case studies. These included assessments of sites put forward by two of the Group’s members, single plot options, and sites in Kings Hill. The latter would be assessed by an independent layout architect in order that the design quality implications were considered alongside the numerical aspects.  

(5)       Interim Guidance Note 3: Residential Parking was an evidence based foundation for local planning authorities’ “residential parking policies” required under Section 51 of Planning Policy Statement PPS3: Housing. Further public consultation would be undertaken as Kent’s district councils respond to PPS3, as was already happening with Ashford Borough Council’s draft Supplementary Planning Document.

(6)       RESOLVED that:-

(a)       the testing of the robustness of IGN3 referred to paragraph (4) above be endorsed, and a report on the outcomes be submitted to the POSC when available;

(b)       the concerns of the Kent Developers’ Group, and the work that was being undertaken to address the concerns, and encourage further dialogue at appropriate levels to understand the actual implications of and opportunities presented by IGN3, and its interpretation at local level be acknowledged;

(c)        the Committee noted that public consultation on Ashford Borough Council’s draft Residential Parking SPD offered developers and designers an opportunity to make further representations on the implications of ‘IGN3 based guidance’, having regard for the need to address the problems of some past approaches; 

(d)               the widespread concern among residents concerning parking in recent residential developments, and the social and cost implications arising from the problems caused, be acknowledged, and the collaborative working approaches that were seeking to avoid replication of the problems in future developments be welcomed; and

(e)       the report be submitted to the Joint Transportation Boards.