Rolls-Royce Motor Cars (R-RMC) supports the Council’s commitment to securing adequate car and cycle parking provision from development in the district. Draft Policy T4 (Parking Provision) requires development to deliver parking in accordance with the West Sussex Parking Standards Guidance (2020) or any subsequent standards.

While the principle of this approach is recognised, it is important that the Local Plan clearly sets out that the adopted Parking Standards should be seen as a starting point for assessing parking needs in a development. It is acknowledged that the Parking Standards guidance sets out they are an “initial guide for developers (paragraph 6.3 West Sussex Guidance on Parking at New Developments September 2020) and the Local plan policy should align with this approach. It is also important that the policy retains some flexibility to account for individual circumstances and nature of operations where a different approach is more appropriate. This may include circumstances such as the delivery of the bespoke R-RMC expansion site, where parking provision for specific employment needs may differ. This would not negate the requirement to prepare and provide a Travel Plan as appropriate.

R-RMC suggests that the draft policy is amended to more clearly support flexibility in individual circumstances where the adopted Parking Standards may not be the most appropriate solution. This would make the draft policy effective and sound.