DC Casebook: Householder development - Car port enclosure turned down at estate

Planning, 22 August 2008

The council had adopted supplementary planning guidance stating that car ports should be counted as providing one whole parking space. The guidance treated garages as providing only half a space because they were often used for domestic storage, reducing the scope for parking. On this basis, it asserted that enclosing the car ports would lead to pressure from residents to park on local roads, undermining the safety and convenience of other road users.

The inspector agreed with this assessment. In his opinion, allowing the appeal would lead to additional parking in a courtyard on the estate and restrict manoeuvring space between vehicles. He also observed that the area clearly faced a high level of demand for on-street parking. Exacerbating this would harm highway safety, he concluded.

DCS Number 100-056-676

Inspector Martin Andrews; Written representations.