Bradford District Local Plan - Publication Draft (Regulation 19) (October 2026)

Ends on 30th November 2026 (41 days remaining)

Appendix 3 Parking Standards Comment

  1. The purpose of this Appendix is to provide guidance on the levels of parking provision for bicycles and motor vehicles necessary to serve new development or changes of use for retail, residential, industrial, non-residential institutions, and assembly and leisure uses.
  2. The parking standards have been derived from national planning policies, the WYCA Local Transport Plan and an internal review of parking evidence and best practice within the Council.

Vehicle Parking

  1. As per the guidelines set out in the National Planning Policy Framework the level of vehicle parking provision will be determined by:
    • the accessibility of the development;
    • the type, mix and use of development;
    • the availability of and opportunities for public transport;
    • local car ownership levels; and
    • an overall need to reduce the use of high-emission vehicles.
  2. Vehicle Parking standards are divided into three categories as shown in Table 1, based on the development density as set out in Policy HO2 and the proximity to public transport nodes.

Table 1 – Vehicle Parking Categories

Category

Description of Site

A

150-300dph density and within 800m walking distance of Bradford Interchange, Bradford Forster Square, Shipley, Bingley, Ilkley or Keighley stations

B

Any density within 800m walking distance of a well-connected station[1], and does not meet the criteria for Zone A.

C

Any site which does not meet the criteria for Zone A or Zone B.
  1. The car parking standards set out in Table 2 show the maximum number of parking spaces that should be provided alongside new development and changes of use at existing premises. Standards for vehicles carrying disabled people, motorcycles and cycle parking in Tables 3 and 4 are the minimum required.

Table 2 – Vehicle Parking Standards

Type and Size of Development

Parking Standards (maximum)

Category A

Category B

Category C

B2

General Industrial

0 spaces

1 space per 75 sqm

1 space per 50sqm

B8

Storage and Distribution

N/A

1 space per 250sqm

1 space per 250sqm

C1

Hotels and Guest Houses

0 spaces

1 space per 2 bedrooms

1 space per bedroom

C2

Hospitals (above 2500sqm)

1 space per 12 staff + 1 space per 12 daily visitors

1 space per 6 staff + 1 space per 6 daily visitors

1 space per 4 staff + 1 space per 4 daily visitors

C2

Nursing Homes

1 space per 8 residents + 1 space per 7 staff

1 space per 7 residents + 1 space per 3 staff

1 space per 5 residents + 1 space per 2 staff

C2/

C2a

Residential Education Establishments / Secure Residential Institution

To be considered on a case-by-case basis

C3

Student Halls

Minimum operational requirement (presumption against)

1 space per 8 students

1 space per 5 students

C3

Dwellings

0 spaces

1 space for Studio, 1-bed or 2-bed

2 spaces for 3-bed or 4-bed

3 spaces for 5-bed or 6-bed

7+ bed to be agreed through discussion with CBMDC Highways Development Control

Visitor Parking: 1 space + 1 space per 20 car spaces for first 100 car spaces, then 1 space per 30 car spaces over 100 car spaces

C3

Sheltered Housing

0 spaces

1 space per 6 staff + 1 space per 6 daily visitors

1 space per 4 units + 1 space per 4 units for visitors and staff

C3

Hostels

Minimum operational requirement (presumption against)

1 space per 6 staff + 1 space per 6 residents

1 space per 4 staff + 1 space per 4 residents

C4

Houses Multiple Occupancy

0 spaces

1 space per 3 bedrooms

1 space per 2 bedrooms

E(a)

Non-Food Retail (under 500sqm)

0 spaces

1 space per 36sqm

1 space per 25sqm

E(a)

Non-Food Retail (500-1000sqm)

0 spaces

1 space per 36sqm

1 space per 25sqm

E(a)

Non-Food Retail (above 1000sqm)

0 spaces

1 space per 36sqm

1 space per 25sqm

E(b)

Food Retail (under 500sqm)

0 spaces

1 space per 50sqm

1 space per 35sqm

E(b)

Food Retail (500-999sqm)

0 spaces

1 space per 50sqm

1 space per 20sqm

E(b)

Food Retail (above 1000sqm)

0 spaces

1 space per 50sqm

1 space per 14sqm

E(c) (i-iii)

Business

0 spaces

1 space per 45 sqm

1 space per 30sqm

E(d)

Gyms, sports halls

Minimum operational requirement (presumption against)

To be considered on a case-by-case basis

E(e)

Non-residential Health Centres, Surgeries

Minimum operational requirement (presumption against)

2 spaces per consulting room + 1 space per 5 staff

3 spaces per consulting room + 1 space per 3 staff

E(f)

Day nurseries & crèches

0 spaces

1 space per 9 children

1 space per 6 children

E(g) (i)

Offices to carry out any operational or administrative functions

0 spaces

1 space per 30sqm

E(g) (ii) and (iii)

Research and development of products or processes and;

Industrial processes

Minimum operational requirement (presumption against)

1 space per 60sqm

F1

Places of Worship

Minimum operational requirement

1 space per 36sqm

1 space per 25sqm

F1(a)

Primary Schools

Minimum operational requirement

1 space per 3 staff + 4 spaces for visitors

1 space per 2 staff + 5 spaces for visitors

F1(a)

Secondary Schools

Minimum operational requirement

1 space per 3 staff + 8 spaces for visitors

1 space per 2 staff + 10 spaces for visitors

F1(a)

Higher and Further Education (above 2500 sqm)

Minimum operational requirement

1 space per 3 staff + 10 spaces for visitors

1 space per 2 staff + 15 spaces for visitors

F1(c)

Museums

Minimum operational requirement

1 space per 90sqm

1 space per 60sqm

F1(d)

Libraries

Minimum operational requirement

1 space per 36sqm

1 space per 25sqm

F1

Assembly and Leisure (above 1000 sqm)

Minimum operational requirement

1 space per 35sqm

1 space per 22sqm

F2

Leisure Sports and Leisure activities, Swimming pools, Tennis/Squash/Bowling

Minimum operational requirement

Minimum operational requirement

1 space per 2 players/staff 1 space per 5 fixed seats, 1 space per 10sqm pool area, 4 space per court/lane

F2

Riding Stables/Equestrian Centres

N/A

N/A

1 space per 2 horses on the yard + 1 horsebox space per 150sqm

SG

Auction Rooms and Garage Forecourts

N/A

N/A

1 space per 2sqm standing area

SG

Workshops

N/A

N/A

1 space per 2 staff, 3 spaces per service bay

SG

Private Hire/Hackney Carriage office

N/A

N/A

Min 5 spaces or 1 space for every 4 cars operating from

SG

Filling Stations (with no ancillary uses)

N/A

N/A

1 space per 2 staff

SG

Public Houses/Wine Bars

0 spaces

1 space per 10sqm

1 space per 5sqm

SG

Hot Food Takeaway

0 spaces

1 space per 10sqm

1 space per 5sqm

SG

Cinemas, Conference and Concert (above 1000 sqm)

Minimum operational requirement

1 space per 15 seats

1 space per 5 seats

SG

Stadia

N/A

N/A

1 space per 15 seats + coach lay-by parking

SG

Other

To be considered on a case-by-case basis
  1. In addition to the parking provision set out in the table above it is expected that developments should provide adequate parking for disabled motorists at the levels set out in Table 3 below.

Table 3 – Disabled Parking Standards

Type of Development

Parking Requirement

Employment Site

Up to 200 parking spaces 5% of capacity should be reserved for disabled parking (minimum 2 spaces)

Over 200 spaces 2% of capacity + 6 spaces should be reserved for disabled parking

Public, shopping and Leisure Facilities

Up to 200 spaces 6% of capacity should be reserved for disabled parking (minimum 3 spaces)

Over 200 spaces 4% of capacity + 4 spaces should be reserved for disabled parking

Vehicle Parking Treatments

  1. Table 4 below sets out the recommended car parking treatments based on the site's location in support of Policy TR3 (3B). Further guidance can be found in Homes England’s ‘Parking What Works Where’ (2026) and Homes and Neighbourhoods: a guide to designing in Bradford SPD.

Table 4 – Suitable Residential Parking Treatments

* Generally, not considered a suitable parking treatment for this location category due to character, density or cost implications but could be made to work depending on the context if sensitively designed and used with caution.

** If proposing on-street resident parking applicants should discuss management/adoption options with CBMDC Highways

Category A

‘Central Urban Areas’ (if parking is provided)

Category B

‘Well-connected Urban Locations’

Category C

‘Other locations’

Shared off-plot

(Structure)
  • multi-storey
  • underground
  • undercroft
  • podium
  • car barn
  • undercroft
  • podium
  • car barn
  • multi-storey*
  • underground*
  • car barn
  • podium*

Shared off-plot

(Surface)
  • parking square
  • rear court*
  • parking square
  • front court
  • rear court
  • parking square
  • front court
  • rear court

Shared on-street**
  • central reservation
  • parallel to street
  • perpendicular to street
  • echelon
  • central reservation
  • parallel
  • perpendicular
  • echelon
  • parallel to street
  • perpendicular to street
  • echelon
  • central reservation*

Allocated on-plot (hardstanding)
  • none
  • frontage*
  • tandem
  • frontage
  • tandem

Allocated on-plot (Garage / Car Port)
  • integral garage
  • car port
  • integral garage
  • car port
  • garage (integral, attached or detached)

Motorcycle parking

  1. The minimum parking standard for motorcycles and mopeds at developments with off-street car parks is one space, plus an additional space for every 10 car parking spaces.
  2. Parking spaces should normally be 2.5m x 1.5m with a 1m space between each bike.

Electric Vehicles

  1. The Council is committed to promoting the uptake of electric vehicles. The following requirements are expected to be met:
    • Every new home, including those created from a change of use, with associated parking must have an EV chargepoint;
    • Residential buildings undergoing a major renovation which will have more than 10 parking spaces must have at least one EV chargepoint per dwelling with associated parking, along with cable routes in all spaces without chargepoints;
    • All new non-residential buildings with more than 10 parking spaces must have a minimum of one chargepoint and cable routes for one in five (20%) of the total number of spaces.
    • All non-residential buildings undergoing a major renovation that will have more than 10 parking spaces must have a minimum of one chargepoint, along with cable routes for one in five (20%) of the total number of spaces.

Cycle Parking

  1. Cycle parking should be designed and laid out in accordance with the guidance contained in the most recent guidance from Active Travel England, such as LTN1/20, and the Homes and Neighbourhoods: A Guide to Designing in Bradford. Any long-stay parking needs to be secure, meaning it should be either Loss Prevention Board Certified, UK Locksmiths Approved, Insurance Approved or Police Approved (Secured by Design).
  2. Cycle Parking Standards are shown below in Table 5.

Table 5 – Cycle Parking Standards

Note: Staff should always be taken as the full time equivalent, unless otherwise stated.

The standards are based on gross external floorspace, unless otherwise stated.

Type and Size of Development

Parking Standards (minimum)

Long stay

Short Stay

All

Parking for adapted cycles

5% of total capacity

5% of total capacity

B2

General Industrial (above 2500 sqm)

1 space per 500 sqm

1 space per 1,000 sqm

B8

Storage and Distribution

1 space per 500 sqm

1 space per 1,000 sqm

C1

Hotels and Guest Houses

1 space per 20 bedrooms

1 space per 50 bedrooms

C2

Hospitals (above 2500sqm)

1 space per 5 staff

1 space per 30 staff

C2

Nursing Homes

1 space per 5 staff

1 space per 20 bedrooms

C2/

C2a

Residential Education Establishments / Secure Residential Institution

1 space per 5 staff and if applicable 1 space per 4-5 beds/students

To be considered on a case-by-case basis

C3

Student Halls

1 space per bed

-

C3

Dwellings

1 space per bedroom

-

C3

Sheltered Housing

1 space per bedroom

-

C3

Hostels

1 space per bedroom

-

C4

Houses Multiple Occupancy

1 space per bedroom

-

E(a)

Non-Food Retail (under 200sqm)

1 per 100sqm

1 per 100sqm

E(a)

Non-Food Retail (200-1000sqm)

1 per 200sqm

1 per 200sqm

E(a)

Non-Food Retail (above 1000sqm)

1 per 500sqm

1 per 250sqm

E(b)

Food Retail (under 200sqm)

1 per 100sqm

1 per 100sqm

E(b)

Food Retail (200-1000sqm)

1 per 200sqm

1 per 200sqm

E(b)

Food Retail (above 1000sqm)

1 per 500sqm

1 per 250sqm

E(c) (i-iii)

Business

1 per 200sqm

1 per 1,000sqm

E(d)

Gyms, sports halls

1 space per 5 staff

1 space per 50sqm

E(e)

Non-residential Health Centres, Surgeries

1 space per 5 staff

1 space per 50sqm

E(f)

Day nurseries & crèches

1 space per 20 staff + 1 space per 10 students

-

E(g)(i)

Offices to carry out any operational or administrative functions

1 per 200sqm

1 per 1,000sqm

E(g) (ii) and (iii)

Research and development of products or processes and;

Industrial processes

1 per 200sqm

1 per 1,000sqm

F1

Places of Worship

1 space per 5 staff

1 space per 50sqm

F1(a)

Primary Schools

1 space per 20 staff + 1 space per 10 students

-

F1(a)

Secondary Schools

1 space per 20 staff + 1 space per 10 students

-

F1(a)

Higher and Further Education (above 2500 sqm)

1 space per 20 staff + 1 space per 10 FTE students

-

F1(c)

Museums

1 space per 5 staff

1 space per 50sqm

F1(d)

Libraries

1 space per 5 staff

1 space per 50sqm

F1

Assembly and Leisure (above 1000 sqm)

1 space per 8 staff

1 per 30 seats

F2

Leisure Sports and Leisure activities, Swimming pools, Tennis/Squash/Bowling

1 space per 5 staff

1 space per 50sqm

F2

Riding Stables/Equestrian Centres

1 space per 8 staff

-

SG

All

As per most relevant other standard

SG

Bus and Rail Stations/Interchanges

-

1 per 200 daily users

Additional cycle parking specifications

  1. Short-stay cycle parking should be available for shoppers, customers, messengers and other visitors to a site, and should be convenient and readily accessible. Short-stay cycle parking should have step-free access and be located within 15 metres of the main site entrance, where possible.
  2. For both long-stay and short-stay parking, consideration should be given to providing spaces accessible to less conventional bicycle types, such as tricycles, cargo bicycles and bicycles with trailers.
  3. Where it is not possible to provide suitable visitor parking within the curtilage of a development or in a suitable location in the vicinity, the Council will consider additional long-stay provision or, as a last resort, contributions to provide cycle parking in an appropriate location in the vicinity of the site.
  4. Where it is not possible to provide adequate cycle parking within the curtilage of residential dwellings, developers are encouraged to propose innovative alternatives that meet the objectives of these standards. This may include options such as providing the required spaces in secure, conveniently located, on-street parking such as bicycle hangars.
  5. Staff cycle parking should be suitable for long-stay parking in terms of location, security and protection from the elements and inclement weather. In places of employment, supporting facilities are recommended, including changing rooms, maintenance facilities, lockers (at least two per three long-stay spaces are recommended) and shower and drying facilities (at least one per ten long-stay spaces is recommended). Accessible facilities for disabled cyclists should also be provided. The provision of space for folding bicycles is generally not an acceptable alternative to conventional cycle parking.
  6. At university campuses and schools, cycle parking should be located in close proximity to the entrances of all buildings to provide convenience and choice for users. Separate facilities for staff and students should be provided. For nurseries and primary schools, an appropriate proportion of long-stay cycle parking spaces for students may be met through scooter parking. Nurseries should meet the standard through an appropriate mix of long and short-stay parking to cater for staff, those dropping off children, and children’s cycle and scooter parking.
  7. Any e-bike charging should be formalised to limit risks. Therefore:
    • purpose-built charging lockers for removeable batteries must be provided;
    • e-bikes with integral batteries are stored in ground-floor or lower-ground-floor cycle stores if within the building or in a separate outbuildings/stores.

[1] As defined by the NPPF (2026) Well-connected station: Railway stations and underground, tram and light rail stops located within a top 80 Travel to Work Area located partially or fully within England by Gross Value Added (GVA) and which, in the normal weekday timetable, are served (or have a reasonable prospect of being served due to planned upgrades or through agreement with the rail operator) throughout the daytime by at least four trains or trams per hour overall, or at least two trains or trams per hour in any one direction.

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