HAMPSHIRE PARKING STRATEGY AND STANDARDS

1. The County Council has published a number of targets for dealing with the increasing problem of traffic congestion as part of the Local Transport Plan and Road Traffic Reduction Report. The headline target is to halve the rate of forecast traffic growth by the year 2020. Recognising that the availability of car parking has a major influence on travel choice, a revised strategy for car parking (incorporating standards for new developments), has been prepared by the County Council, together with the two unitary authorities of Portsmouth and Southampton and each of the Hampshire District Councils.

2. The new Hampshire Parking Strategy and Standards takes account of current Government guidance and proposed maximum standards of provision which may be reduced in areas where good levels of accessibility to alternative modes of transport are available. Following recommendation of approval by the Environment Policy Review Committee and the Strategic Planning Joint Advisory Panel, and its own detailed consideration of the proposals, the Cabinet has approved, on behalf of the County Council, the adoption of the Strategy as Supplementary Planning Guidance to the Hampshire County Structure Plan 1996 - 2001 (Review).

3. Copies of the Strategy have been placed in the Members' Rooms.

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