The paper identifies the approach adopted by one inner London borough, in its Unitary Development Plan. This relates the permitted level of car parking in a development to available highway capacity, and the intensity of development (i.e. plot-ratio) to the "public transport accessibility level" (PTAL) of its location. Developer contributions are accepted as a means of permitting a higher intensity of development, to the extent that they increase the PTAL. The approach is set in the context of the London Planning Advisory Committee's recent "Advice on a Parking Strategy for London", which provides the framework for all 33 London boroughs to coordinate their car parking policies and standards. The approach is then standards. The approach is then examined in terms of: its strengths and weaknesses; its interaction with neighbouring authorities' approaches; its limitations, with suggestions for improvement; and its potential for further development. Finally, the paper considers the vital role of central Government, particularly through the DOE and the DOT. It identifies where this role might be improved, as regards the statutory, regulatory and policy-guidance processes, to better secure the objective of sustainable, and accessible, development. (A)
Abstract