Shared parking bays for new homes attacked as ‘war on motorists’
Residents in new housing developments could find it harder to park under proposals to cut the amount of land devoted to cars.
Homes England, the government’s housing and regeneration agency, has told developers to use shared parking spaces rather than guarantee every household a bay. It said shared parking would reduce the amount of land required for driveways and free room for more homes.
However, campaigners have criticised the guidance as the “latest war on motorists” and say it is in danger of creating tensions between neighbours.
The move aims to discourage car use in favour of greener alternatives such as public transport, walking or cycling.
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Describing the first “golden rule”, Homes England said: “Unallocated car parking is the most efficient, as it helps balance the needs of households with different levels of car ownership. If a car parking bay is no longer needed for an occupant, someone else can use it, which is best delivered by taking some car parking bays off plot.”
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It suggested using a “broad range” of parking arrangements, including communal bays, on-street parking and shared spaces, instead of relying solely on private driveways and garages.
Hugh Bladon of the Alliance of British Drivers said: “This new guidance is the latest war on motorists and it will make parking more and more difficult. It is absolutely absurd that authorities seem to dislike people being mobile in their own vehicles and expect people to take the bus everywhere.
“It is important that people have dedicated parking spaces. This risks creating divided neighbours arguing over which space is theirs and making them grab whichever space is available.”
Isaac Occhipinti of the British Parking Association said: “We recognise the intention behind Homes England’s guidance, but this needs to be grounded in the reality of how people travel. For many households, access to a car remains essential, and parking provision must reflect local levels of demand, alongside access to alternatives such as public transport, walking and cycling infrastructure.”
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The guidance went on to say “31 per cent less space for cars is required with a hybrid approach to car parking”. However, it admitted the move could be problematic, warning: “There’s a risk of car parking congestion or residents being unable to park their cars close to their homes if spaces are full.”
The government has previously published plans for councils to limit the number of parking spaces in new developments in an effort to achieve “maximum parking standards”.
Homes England said: “We want parking to be provided in a way that uses land more efficiently, while helping to create streets that are safer, more attractive, and better places to live.
“Our second edition guidance supports a more flexible approach that encourages a mix of parking types and layouts, helping to make best use of available space while ensuring residents can still park conveniently close to their homes.”