Car Parking Demand Assessments

What triggers a Car Parking Demand Assessment?

Councils will request a Car Parking Demand Assessment (CPDA) for most Planning Permit applications when a development is not able to provide the required number of car parking spaces on-site. Car Parking Demand Assessments are developed around Clause 52.06 of the Planning Scheme, which specifies the car parking requirements for various land use types under Table 1. Most land uses fit within these generic categories; those that don't must instead provide car parking to the satisfaction of the road authority, which requires negotiation with council best handled by experienced traffic engineers.

As your planning proposal is assessed against Clause 52.06's parking requirements, the Statutory Planner will determine whether your development provides sufficient parking to satisfy the statutory requirements. Where a shortfall is identified, the planner will typically request a Car Parking Demand Assessment through a Request for Further Information (RFI), in line with Clause 52.06-7. For larger developments, a Car Parking Demand Assessment is often included within a broader Traffic Impact Assessment.

How is a Car Parking Demand Assessment prepared?

The general idea is to capture the demand for car parking spaces generated by your development. For residential developments this includes spaces for residents and visitors, for retail developments this is demand generated by customers, and for mixed-use facilities it's a combination of the two. Our traffic engineers review the Planning Scheme applicable to your local council to accurately determine the parking requirement for your development, then work with your designer or planner to understand how many spaces can be provided without sacrificing building size, considering options such as basement car parking where needed.

Where providing the full statutory requirement isn't feasible, RedSquare Traffic can assess whether your development can rely on other modes of transport such as buses or bicycles to reduce parking demand, or assess available street parking in the vicinity through a parking survey to support a reduced provision.

What does a Car Parking Demand Assessment Report include?

• Description of existing conditions of the surrounding road network
• Description of the proposed development
• Review of applicable Planning Scheme clauses and Australian Standards
• Car parking assessment against Planning Scheme clauses and Australian Standards
• Parking surveys
• Parking calculations (demand versus available supply)
• Justification for any reduction in car parking spaces
• A traffic engineer's expert opinion on whether the development can handle parking demand without adverse impacts

When a comprehensive Car Parking Demand Assessment is submitted alongside a Planning Permit application, there is an increased probability of approval without much hassle. RedSquare Traffic's experienced traffic engineers can assist you throughout this process, from start to finish.