Step 5: Parking Management
Across Ebbsfleet it is expected that parking management will be required to ensure parking spaces are utilised by the intended user, avoid informal parking, and protect the public realm for safe access by pedestrians and cyclists.
Parking areas around destinations such as the railway stations and Bluewater shopping centre will require careful management, to ensure residents and their visitors, employees working in the city, and travellers using the Ebbsfleet International transport hub all have convenient access to parking when needed.
EDC will explore the development of a city-wide approach to parking management. This approach will consider not only the areas within the Ebbsfleet red line boundary, but also the adjacent communities, and will aim to develop a shared approach with Dartford and Gravesham Borough Councils that will ensure parking management is considered in an integrated way, and avoid pushing parking problems into neighbouring areas.
GUIDANCE
G37 A parking management plan for the proposed scheme should be developed which is aligned with the Ebbsfleet Parking Management Plan ( when this is completed and made available)
G38 If the Ebbsfleet Parking Management Plan has not been published, the scheme should develop it’s own parking management plan that aims to;
Ensure parking bays are able to be used by the intended type of user.
Discourages informal parking within the public realm and open space network.
Ensures footpaths and cycleways are kept clear for safe and convenient access.
Considers the impact of parking demand and management across the site of the proposed scheme, and neighbouring streets / neighbourhoods, to ensure an integrated approach to parking management across the wider area, that avoids pushing parking conflicts outwards.
Citywide Parking Management Plan
The scheme-based parking management plan should be informed by the “heat map” illustrated below, to tailor the level of parking control and associated management to the risk of parking issues developing.
The green areas denotes higher density development around local centres, where parking management and controls would be expected to be greatest to balance the conflict between residents and visitors in this area.
In the blue areas, parking is expected to need less control, but may need positive forms of reinforcement to avoid conflicts between users (such as controlled crossings).
