Section 7.0 Parking Standards
The purpose and application of parking standards is to ensure that when assessing development proposals, consideration is given to accommodating vehicles that will potentially be generated by the development proposed, in accordance with national and regional policy objectives, and to facilitate a modal shift towards more sustainable forms of transport.
7.1 Car Parking
Car parking should be provided in accordance with the standards set out in Table 7.1 below. Spaces may be provided on site or on street. Appropriately designed on-street car parking will be encouraged to facilitate increases in residential densities at appropriate locations. This parking may be provided as a shared parking area or bay which may be integrated into the overall development, or provided on- street where road widths are developed to adequate standards.
In general, no more than 10-15 spaces will be provided in a shared parking cluster, in the interest of visual amenity. Within group parking areas, consideration will be given to the visibility of residents’ cars (from their homes if possible), convenience and the need to soften the impact of group parking by landscaping.
7.2 Parking Requirement for Changes of Use
Where an application for change of use is made, the parking requirements will be the difference between the new use parking requirement, and the existing use parking requirement.
In Waterford City Centre, with a view to encouraging utilisation of upper floors, the parking requirement will be reduced by 50% for first floor change of use, where applicable, and there will be no parking requirement for second floor and subsequent floors.
*Note: In certain categories, different car parking standards apply to Waterford City Centre from other locations in the County. The car parking standards that apply to Waterford City Centre also apply within 250m of a Public Transport Route.
Table 7. 1 Car Parking Standards | |
Land Use – Residential |
Car Spaces |
House/Dwelling/Apartment |
Waterford City Centre/Urban Town Centres/ Neighbourhood Centres - (unless otherwise deemed to be required on a site by site basis):
In all other areas in the City - (unless otherwise not deemed to be required on a site by site basis):
In all other areas in the County - (unless otherwise not deemed to be required on a site by site basis and excluding apartment developments): For every 4 residential units provided with only 1 space, 1 visitor space shall be provided in addition. *Parking areas should be designed in accordance with Section 4.4.9 of the DMURS Guidelines. A mix of on-street and in-curtilage parking is encouraged in residential settings. |
Hotel Accommodation (excluding bars, function rooms, etc.) |
1 per 2 bedrooms in Waterford City Centre* 1 per bedroom in all other locations |
B&B/ Guesthouse |
1 per 2 bedrooms in Waterford City Centre* |
Motel Accommodation |
1 per 2 bedrooms in Waterford City Centre* |
Hostel accommodation |
1 per 8 bed spaces |
Self-Catering Accommodation |
1 per unit |
Land Use – Employment |
|
Manufacturing Industry |
1 per 80 sq.m gross floor area |
Light Industrial Use |
1 per 60 sq.m gross floor area & 1 HGV space |
Warehousing |
1 per 100 sq.m gross floor area |
Office Use |
1 per 100 sq.m gross floor area in Waterford City Centre* Parking for visitors may also be provided at the discretion of the Planning Authority. |
Land Use – Commercial |
|
Retail Shops and Supermarkets |
1 per 50 sq.m net floor space. |
Non Food Retail |
1 per 25 sq.m net floor area |
Retail Warehousing |
1 per 50 sq.m gross floor area |
Cash and Carry |
1 per 90 sq.m gross floor area |
Banks |
1 per 100 sq.m gross floor area |
Restaurants |
1 per 30 sq.m net floor area |
Bars, Lounges, Function Rooms including such spaces in Hotels |
1 per 30 sq.m |
Night Club/ Dance Hall |
1 per 20 sq.m of public area |
Retail Outlets within Service Garages |
1 per 10 sq.m of net floor area |
Caravan Park |
1 space per unit |
Land Use – Health and Education Facilities |
|
Hospitals |
1 space per bed |
Medical Clinics & Surgeries |
1 per consulting room in Waterford City Centre* & 1 per employee. In all other locations 2 per consulting room & 1 per employee. |
Nursing Homes/Residential Institution |
1 space per 4 beds and 0.5 space per employee |
Primary School
Secondary School |
1 per classroom + dedicated set down area and sufficient bus circulation/ off-loading provision 1.25 per classroom |
Colleges/ Third Level Institutions |
1 per staff member, + 1 per 20 students |
Land Use – Community Facilities |
|
Place of Public Worship/ Community Centre/ Hall; Cinema/ Theatre |
1 per 10 seats |
Libraries |
1 per 32 sq.m gross floor area |
Conference Centre |
1 per 50 sq.m gross floor area in Waterford City Centre* |
Crèche |
1 per employee & dedicated set down area, and 1 per 4 children |
Cinema/Theatre |
1 per 10 seats, + 1 per staff member |
Funeral Home |
1 per 20 sq.m gross floor area |
Leisure Centre |
1 space per 50 sq.m, + 0.5 space per staff member |
Land Use – Sports Facilities |
|
Sports Clubs – including tennis courts, swimming pools, etc. |
2 per court, 5 per 100 sq.m |
Golf/ Pitch & Putt courses |
2 per hole |
Golf Driving Range |
1 per bay |
Stadia |
1 per 15 seats, + 1 coach space per 500 spectators |
EV Charging Points |
|
Residential multi-unit developments both new buildings and buildings undergoing major renovations (with private car spaces including visitor car parking spaces). |
A minimum of 1 EV charge point space per five car parking spaces (ducting for every parking space shall also be provided) |
New dwellings with in-curtilage car parking |
Installation of appropriate infrastructure to enable installation of a recharging point for EVs |
Non-residential developments (with private car parking spaces including visitor car parking spaces with more than 10 spaces e.g. office developments,) |
Provide at least 1 recharging point, and a minimum of 1 space per five car parking spaces should be equipped with one fully functional EV Charging Point |
Developments with publicly accessible spaces (e.g. supermarket car park, cinema etc.) |
Provide at least 1 recharging point, and a minimum of 1 space per five car parking spaces should be equipped with one fully functional EV Charging Point |
Advisory Notes
- In the case of any specific uses not listed in the above table, Waterford City & County Council will specify its requirements in relation to parking.
- The above car parking standards shall be applied at the discretion of Waterford City & County Council having regard to the availability and adequacy of on street parking, existing or proposed off street parking to serve the development and the overall locational context of the proposed development.
- Car parking standards (unless otherwise stated), are set down as “maxima” standards.
- Parking facilities for mobility impaired drivers and their vehicles shall be provided at the general rate of 2 per 100 spaces, such spaces shall be proximate to the entry points of the proposed buildings.
- Adequate car parking bays should be provided within the confines of the public areas of residential areas to address public needs.
- Refer to the Design Standards for New Apartments in relations to reduced car parking requirements for developments adjacent to existing and future rail stations and minimum requirements in peripheral /or less accessible urban locations.
7.3 Loading & Unloading
In addition to the general car parking requirements, service parking spaces may be required for cars or other vehicles necessary in the operation of the business or a particular building, e.g. delivery and collection of goods. In all major developments of an industrial / commercial nature, developers will be required to provide loading and unloading facilities sufficient to meet the likely demand of such development. Off-street loading facilities shall be designed to conform to the following requirements:
Development Management DM 38 |
---|
|
Applications for development should also provide for:
Development Management DM 39 |
---|
Standard Car Parking
Disabled Parking
Age Friendly and Parent & Child Parking Spaces
EV charging points
Rapid Charge Points:
|
7.4 Cycle Parking
Secure cycle parking facilities shall be provided in new office blocks, public buildings, apartment blocks, shopping centres, hospitals, employment generating developments etc. Bicycle racks shall be provided in all cases where the Council consider such parking facilities necessary. In general, the provision of cycle parking should consider:
Development Management DM 40 |
---|
|
The cycle parking standards set out in the tables below are the minimum provisions (sum of both short-stay and long-stay), and a higher quantum may be required to meet national sustainable travel targets as per ‘Smarter Travel’, or higher targets associated with a Travel Plan for a proposed development.
Cycle parking provision shall be provided as per the following tables:
Table 7. 2 Cycle parking for public uses | |
Development type |
Parking spaces |
Multi-Storey Car park |
10% of car parking spaces |
Public Buildings |
5% of number of visitors per day |
Train Stations |
5 per number of trains at 2-hour peak period |
Park and Ride |
20% of car parking or as agreed |
Bus Interchanges |
1 per 50 passengers peak flow |
Table 7. 3 Bicycle Parking Standards for residential developments | ||
Residential Development type |
1 short stay (visitor) parking space per: (Min. of 2 spaces) |
1 long stay parking space per: (Min. of 2 spaces) |
Apartments, Flats, Sheltered housing |
5 units |
1 unit |
Houses - 2 bed dwelling |
5 units |
1 unit |
Houses - 3+ bed dwelling |
5 units |
1 unit |
Sheltered housing |
5 units |
1 unit |
Student Accommodation |
5 bedrooms |
2 bedrooms |
Table 7. 4 Bicycle Parking Standards for non-residential developments | ||
Development type |
1 short stay (visitor) parking space per: (Min. of 2 spaces) |
1 long stay parking space per: (Min. of 2 spaces) |
Auditorium, Theatre, Cinema |
10 seats |
5 Staff |
Amusement Centre, Entertainment |
10 visitors |
5 Staff |
Bank, Building Societies, Estate Agents, Betting Shop |
100m² GFA |
5 staff |
Bars, Lounges, Function Rooms, Dance Hall, Private Dance, Clubs, Discotheques, Night-club |
100m² PFA |
5 staff |
Bowling Alley |
Lane |
Lane |
Fast foods |
50m² PFA |
50m² PFA |
Cafés, Restaurants |
100m² PFA |
5 staff |
Childcare Services |
10 children |
5 Staff |
Church, Places of Public Worship |
20 seats |
5 Staff |
College of Higher Education, University |
5 students |
5 staff |
Conference facility |
20 seats |
5 Staff |
Driving Ranges (Golf) |
9m of base line |
5 staff |
Funeral Home |
2 spaces per parlour |
2 spaces per parlour |
Garden Centre |
200m² GFA |
5 Staff |
Golf or Pitch and Putt Courses |
1 per hole |
5 Staff |
General Warehousing, Storage Centre |
1000m² GFA |
500m² GFA |
Health Clinics and Group Medical Practices – doctor, dentist, vet, consultant |
2 consulting rooms |
5 Staff |
Holiday Caravan Park, Camping, Self-Catering Accommodation |
5 units |
5 staff |
Hospital |
10 beds |
5 staff |
Hostel Accommodation, Guest House |
10 beds |
5 staff |
Hotel, Motel |
10 beds |
5 staff |
Institutions, Community Centres, Library, Museum, Art Gallery |
100m² GFA |
5 Staff |
Manufacturing / Light Industry |
200m² GFA |
200m² GFA |
Marinas |
Each berth |
Each berth |
Nursing Home, Elderly Persons Home, Children’s Home |
10 residents |
5 Staff |
Offices - Business, Professional |
200m² GFA |
200m² GFA |
Primary Schools |
5 Students |
5 staff |
Post-Primary Schools |
5 Students |
5 Staff |
Residential Mobile Home Park |
5 units |
5 staff |
Retail – Food (supermarkets) |
100m² GFA |
5 staff |
Retail - Comparison |
100m² GFA |
5 Staff |
Retail - Shopping Centres and Stores |
100m² GFA |
5 staff |
Retail Warehousing in Industrial Areas, General Industrial |
500m² GFA |
200m² GFA |
Riding Centre, Equestrian Use |
200m² GFA |
5 staff |
Science and Technology Based |
200m² GFA |
200m² GFA |
Retail Showrooms |
500m² GFA |
200m² GFA |
Sports Club/Recreation Centre/ Gymnasium |
100m² GFA |
5 Staff |
Sports Grounds, Courts |
12 per ha. Pitch area/4 per court |
5 staff |
Stadia |
20 seats |
5 Staff |
Vehicle Service Station |
0.5 parking space |
5 staff |
Swimming Pool |
10m² pool area and 5 fixed seats |
5 Staff |
Other uses not in table |
Car space |
Car space |
Note 1. GFA = Gross floor area; PFA = Public Floor Area; |
The following should be noted when providing cycle parking for residential areas:
Development Management DM 41 |
---|
|
In relation to long stay parking space highlighted in the above table which, where the number of staff is not known at planning application stage, the following can be used as a guide:
- Office type uses: 1 space/ 20 m2 per staff member
- Warehousing or small industry type uses 50 m2 per staff member
- All other uses including retail, 40 m2 per staff member
As part of the cycle parking quantum for various land uses in Table 7.2, Table 7.3 and Table 7.4, consideration should be given to providing some short terms cycle parking for Cargo Bikes or Tricycles, for developments where there may be a demand, such as retail.
7.5 Shower and Changing Facilities
For all new build development proposals, and where possible and appropriate in ‘retrofit’ developments, showers and lockers should be provided in all places of employment for employees that wish to cycle, walk or travel to the work by means of sustainable/ active transport. Shower facilities should be provided so that they can be easily accessed by people arriving, without disturbing other staff members, or students. Showers should also be located conveniently to the bike parking facility.
It would be desirable for all employees to have access to a drying room or clothes rack which would allow for people to hang up and dry their clothes, shoes, jackets, gloves and helmets, before travelling home at the end of the day. Such drying provision could be in the form of a designated well-ventilated room/closest, which can only be accessed by specific staff.
7.6 Lockers
The number of lockers provided should relate to the number of cycle parking spaces. Lockers should be well ventilated, secure and lockable, and should be located close to the showers, positioned in locations that can be accessed without blocking through-routes. Lockers should be of a suitable size to allow storage of biking equipment such as a helmet, shoes and a change of clothes. Lockers that facilitate multiple short-term users are recommended.
The following standards of cycling facilities will be sought for non-residential developments:
Development Management DM 42 |
---|
1 shower per workplaces over 100 m2 (approximately 5 employees). |
A minimum of 2 showers for workplaces over 500m2 (approximately 25 employees). |
1 shower per 1,000m2 thereafter. |
Lockers for the storage of clothing and equipment, in addition to that provided for staff personal effects, etc should be provided for 20% of all staff members. |
7.7 Covered Bike Parking
Sheltered (covered) cycle parking can provide a higher quality of short-term parking. Cycle shelters offer weather protection and can help protect bikes from accidental damage by providing greater separation from a sidewalk or parking area. Installing cycle parking underneath awnings, overhangs or stairways can also provide good shelter and may avoid extra construction costs. An enclosed structure provides the best shelter however a simple covering will still help to protect bikes and cyclists from rain and snow.
Development Management DM 43 |
---|
A minimum of 50% of short-term cycle parking and all long-term cycle parking should be covered. Individual bike lockers can also be provided to provide safe cycle parking. |
7.8 Assessment Criteria for Deviation from Car and Bicycle Parking Standards
The Planning Authority MAY consider relaxing, or deviating from the above-specified Parking Standards under certain circumstances, and subject to an assessment in respect of the following criteria:
Development Management DM 44 |
---|
|