To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport whether his Department has assessed the effect of restrictions on off-street parking spaces in new residential developments on the (a) availability and (b) accessibility of on-street parking. (294899)

There is extensive research on car parking. In May 2007 for example the Department of Communities and Local Government published residential car parking research, which addressed the availability of on- and off-street parking in residential developments and the efficiency of allocating spaces to dwellings. It concluded that well-designed on-street parking in residential areas can make a valuable and flexible contribution to the overall supply of parking.

The full report can be found at:

http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/planningandbuilding/residentialcarparking

The ‘Manual for Streets’ also explains the efficiency benefits of unallocated car parking and the need to meet at least some of the normal demand on the street. This can be found at:

http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/sustainable/manforstreets/