Have your say on parking standards for new developments in Buckinghamshire

Overview

We are asking for your feedback on our draft Parking Standards for New Developments in Buckinghamshire.

The standards set out how much parking should be provided in new developments, and how parking spaces should be designed and managed. The aim is to support future development growth in Buckinghamshire while making sure that parking stays safe, accessible, and well‑integrated into local communities.

The draft standards only apply to new developments. They do not cover existing on-street parking or parking in town centres as these are covered by other policies.

About the draft parking standards

The draft standards set out what the council believes is the right amount of parking for different types of development. They also cover how parking should be managed so that new developments work well for residents, visitors and the wider community.

The standards also promote enhanced transport choices through supporting guidance on Car Clubs and Mobility Hubs. The draft Car Clubs guidance and draft Mobility Hubs guidance have been published alongside the draft Parking Standards for New Developments and are included as part of this consultation.

How we developed the draft standards How we developed the draft standards

To shape the draft parking standards, we reviewed a wide range of information, evidence and national guidance. This included:

national policies, regulations and best practice
comparisons with parking standards used by other councils
census data and other travel data
reviews of public transport and local accessibility
on-site surveys at different residential and non-residential locations across Buckinghamshire

This work helped us understand:

how people currently travel day-to-day
how parking is used in different places
the level of parking that is appropriate for different types of development

We used this evidence to ensure the draft standards are realistic, up-to-date and reflect the way people travel in Buckinghamshire.

Why parking standards are needed Why parking standards are needed

Parking standards give developers and planners clear requirements on:

how much parking is needed
what good design and management look like
what must be included when planning new sites

Clear standards help make sure new developments are safe, well-designed and make good use of land. They also help ensure a consistent approach across Buckinghamshire, helping new development function well from the start with parking that fits its context and purpose.

Well‑designed, parking standards that are based on local insight can reduce pressure on roads and support a mix of travel choices contributing to a safer, more attractive and inclusive place to live, work and get around.

Parking standards, the Local Plan for Buckinghamshire and the Local Transport Plan Parking standards, the Local Plan for Buckinghamshire and the Local Transport Plan

The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) gives councils the flexibility to set their own parking standards based on local circumstances, including accessibility, public transport availability, car ownership levels and development needs. In Buckinghamshire, the draft parking standards apply this flexibility by ensuring new growth is supported by appropriate transport infrastructure that reflects real local conditions and changing needs in our towns and villages.

These standards support the Local Plan for Buckinghamshire (LP4B) and Local Transport Plan (LTP5) vision and objectives which aim to reduce emissions, create high quality places and improve transport choices.

A review of the existing standards found that most provide appropriate levels of parking and remain similar to those used elsewhere. However, some elements have been updated to reflect the latest data, national regulations and to align with the direction of the new Local Plan and Local Transport Plan.

This consultation focuses on the areas where new proposals are being introduced. Where minimum requirements are set nationally or where we are simply bringing older standards up to date, there is limited room for change.

How to have your say

You can tell us your views by completing the online survey using the link at the end of the page

Alternatively, you can:

email us at Transportstrategy@buckinghamshire.gov.uk
complete, and return, a printed version of the survey (PDF 0.41MB) to Draft Parking Standards for New Developments Consultation, Transport Strategy, Buckinghamshire Council, Walton Street, Aylesbury, HP20 1UA

If you have any questions about this activity, or require this information in another format or language, please email us at Transportstrategy@buckinghamshire.gov.uk

Please tell us your views by 11:59pm on Tuesday 12 May 2026.

What happens next

Your feedback will be used to refine the final parking standards document before it is taken forward for adoption as part of the Local Plan. We are due to publish the draft Local Plan this summer before submitting it to the national Planning Inspector in December.

Privacy

We will use the information you provide here only for this activity. We will store the information securely in line with data protection laws and will not share or publish any personal details. Survey responses will be analysed using Microsoft products including Copilot, Excel and Word. For more information about data and privacy, please see our Privacy Policy.

If you have questions about data and privacy, please email us on dataprotection@buckinghamshire.gov.uk or write to our Data Protection Officer at Buckinghamshire Council, The Gateway, Gatehouse Road, Aylesbury, HP19 8FF.

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