Keep car parking standards in the London Plan

The London Assembly today agreed a motion[[1]] resolving to overturn a recommendation from the Planning Minister that there is no place in the London Plan for car parking standards. They have called on the Mayor to reject the Minister’s suggestion and will write to him to formalise their objection to his suggestion.

Darren Johnson AM, who proposed the motion, said:

“Worryingly, last year we saw a 3-4% increase in peak time traffic on London’s main roads. I believe very strongly that unrestricted car parking spaces will mean more traffic and that’s the last thing we need. On this occasion the Mayor has got it right and government has got it wrong.”

Nicky Gavron AM, who seconded the motion, said:

“The former Planning Minister asked the Mayor to get rid of London-wide parking standards. If that were to happen, we would see more space given to cars and more surface land used – which would mean less housing. We don’t have a parking crisis in London, we have a housing crisis. We need a different direction of travel now - not higher car dependency. Sustainability is at the heart of the London Plan and I hope the new Planning Minister supports that sustainability and overturns the previous minister’s recommendation. “

The full text of the motion agreed at today’s meeting reads as follows:

“This Assembly notes that the London Plan parking standards have been successful in promoting sustainable development in London, and that Transport for London have worked effectively with the GLA’s Planning Decisions Unit to ensure that car parking provision fits with the Mayor’s strategic transport objectives. This Assembly disagrees with the Planning Minister that there is no place in the London Plan for car parking standards, resolves to write to the Minister to withdraw his expectation that the Mayor remove them, and calls on the Mayor to reject the Minister’s suggestion.”