Comment
Draft North East Cambridge Area Action Plan
Representation ID: 54527
Received: 05/10/2020
Respondent: Cambridge Cycling Campaign
The trip budget scheme is ambitious, but not supported with an appropriate model, nor a plausible action plan for reducing car parking provision on existing sites. Immediate action will be needed to reduce motor vehicle trips and car parking in the AAP area before any construction begins.
0.5 parking spaces per dwelling is too high for the carbon budget required for this site. Rather than begin with existing Local Plan guidelines on car parking spaces and assume that private car ownership will continue to be the default for half the new households, the Area Action Plan should set realistic restrictions on car parking based on goals that encourage the use of car clubs and pools, along with walking, cycling and public transport. Spaces in the car barns (proposed to be leased) should be set at cost levels which are a disincentive to owning over sharing or hiring. Car clubs, active travel infrastructure, secure public and residential cycle parking and good public transport links should be in place as the first residents move in, in addition to a consolidation hub within the development for business and home deliveries. Spacing of vehicle bays for deliveries, removals and private un/loading should be designed to ensure adequate availability and to eliminate obstructive parking in the carriageway, or on pavements or cycleways. The whole development should support every aspect of a zero-carbon lifestyle.
Note that Utrecht is building a 'car-free' site for 12,000 people where parking is kept to the edges and the interior is car-free*. The parking is reported as 1 space per 3 households (1,800 spaces total) and there will be 300 car-sharing spaces.
*https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/15/forward-thinking-utrecht-builds-car-free-district-for-12000-people
The trip budget scheme is ambitious, but not supported with an appropriate model, nor a plausible action plan for reducing car parking provision on existing sites. Immediate action will be needed to reduce motor vehicle trips and car parking in the AAP area before any construction begins.
0.5 parking spaces per dwelling is too high for the carbon budget required for this site. Rather than begin with existing Local Plan guidelines on car parking spaces and assume that private car ownership will continue to be the default for half the new households, the Area Action Plan should set realistic restrictions on car parking based on goals that encourage the use of car clubs and pools, along with walking, cycling and public transport. Spaces in the car barns (proposed to be leased) should be set at cost levels which are a disincentive to owning over sharing or hiring. Car clubs, active travel infrastructure, secure public and residential cycle parking and good public transport links should be in place as the first residents move in, in addition to a consolidation hub within the development for business and home deliveries. Spacing of vehicle bays for deliveries, removals and private un/loading should be designed to ensure adequate availability and to eliminate obstructive parking in the carriageway, or on pavements or cycleways. The whole development should support every aspect of a zero-carbon lifestyle.
Note that Utrecht is building a 'car-free' site for 12,000 people where parking is kept to the edges and the interior is car-free*. The parking is reported as 1 space per 3 households (1,800 spaces total) and there will be 300 car-sharing spaces.
*https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/15/forward-thinking-utrecht-builds-car-free-district-for-12000-people