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Michael Lee, BEng
CAR PARKING DEMAND ASSESSMENT
When you do not provide enough on-site car parking for what you intend to use a site for, Council would request for a car parking demand assessment to be undertaken by a qualified traffic engineer against the requirements of Clause 52.06 of the Victorian Planning Scheme. The site is question is typically established, with business operating from it. When someone applies for a change of use, car parking demand assessment triggered when the proposed use generates requirement for more car parking than the existing use.
Car parking requirement calculation as per Clause 52.06-5
Clause 52.06 of the Victorian Planning Provisions sets car parking requirements, using Table 1 and a new Car Parking Requirement Map (based on Public Transport Accessibility – PTAL) to determine rates for different land uses, with lower rates in better transport areas, and generally requires rates for new developments or increased floor areas, but the specific rates (e.g., for shops, offices) are found in the detailed Table 1 within the Clause itself, linked to local Parking Overlays.
Table 1 of this clause sets out the minimum and maximum car parking requirements that apply to a use specified in the table based on the land category identified in the Car Parking Requirement Maps (Department of Transport and Planning, 2025) (CPR maps).
If the land is shown in two or more categories on the CPR maps, the car parking requirements for the higher category applies to all of the land.
A car parking requirement in Table 1 is calculated as either:
- a number of car parking spaces; or
- a percentage of the total site area that must be set aside for car parking.
If a measure refers to a number of people, it means the maximum number of people permitted on the site at any one time.
The car parking requirement for a use specified in Table 1 is calculated by multiplying the corresponding number specified in Category 1, 2, 3 or 4 (as applicable) by the corresponding measure. If the measure is specified as a per cent of the site area, the corresponding number specified in Category 1, 2, 3 or 4 is the per cent of the site area to be set aside for car parking.
Where an existing use specified in Table 1 is increased by the corresponding measure, the car parking requirement only applies to the increase, provided the existing number of car parking spaces currently being provided in connection with the existing use is not reduced.
If in calculating the number of car parking spaces the result is not a whole number, the required number of car parking spaces is to be rounded down to the nearest whole number.
Where the car parking requirement specified in Table 1 is calculated as a percentage of the total site area, the area to be provided for car parking includes an accessway that directly abuts any car parking spaces, but does not include any accessway or portion of an accessway that does not directly abut any car parking spaces.
The car parking requirement specified in Table 1 includes disabled car parking spaces. The proportion of spaces to be allocated as disabled spaces must be in accordance with Australian Standard AS2890.6-2009 (disabled) and the Building Code of Australia.
For applications to reduce the car parking requirement as per Clause 52.07
An application to reduce (including reduce to zero) the number of car parking spaces required under clause 52.06-5 or in a schedule to the Parking Overlay must be accompanied by a Car Parking Demand Assessment.
The Car Parking Demand Assessment must assess the car parking demand likely to be generated by the proposed:
- new use; or
- increase in the floor areas or site area of the existing use; or
- increase to the existing use by the measure specified in Table 1 to clause 52.06-5 for that use.
The Car Parking Demand Assessment must address the following matters, to the satisfaction of the responsible authority:
- The likelihood of multi-purpose trips within the locality which are likely to be combined with a trip to the land in connection with the proposed use.
- The variation of car parking demand likely to be generated by the proposed use over time.
- The short-stay and long-stay car parking demand likely to be generated by the proposed use.
- The availability of public transport in the locality of the land.
- The convenience of pedestrian and cyclist access to the land.
- The provision of bicycle parking and end of trip facilities for cyclists in the locality of the land.
- The anticipated car ownership rates of likely or proposed visitors to or occupants (residents or employees) of the land.
- Any empirical assessment or case study.
Before granting a permit to reduce the number of spaces, the responsible authority must consider the following, as appropriate:
- The Car Parking Demand Assessment.
- Any relevant local planning policy or incorporated plan.
- The availability of alternative car parking in the locality of the land, including:
- Efficiencies gained from the consolidation of shared car parking spaces.
- Public car parks intended to serve the land.
- On street parking in non residential zones.
- Streets in residential zones specifically managed for non-residential parking.
- On street parking in residential zones in the locality of the land that is intended to be for residential use.
- The practicality of providing car parking on the site, particularly for lots of less than 300 square metres.
- Any adverse economic impact a shortfall of parking may have on the economic viability of any nearby activity centre.
- The future growth and development of any nearby activity centre.
- Any car parking deficiency associated with the existing use of the land.
- Any credit that should be allowed for car parking spaces provided on common land or by a Special Charge Scheme or cash-in-lieu payment.
- Local traffic management in the locality of the land.
- The impact of fewer car parking spaces on local amenity, including pedestrian amenity and the amenity of nearby residential areas.
- The need to create safe, functional and attractive parking areas.
- Access to or provision of alternative transport modes to and from the land.
- The equity of reducing the car parking requirement having regard to any historic contributions by existing businesses.
- The character of the surrounding area and whether reducing the car parking provision would result in a quality/positive urban design outcome.
- Any other matter specified in a schedule to the Parking Overlay.
- Any other relevant consideration.