New Residents Permit Zones
Resident permit parking schemes may be offered to assist residents living in areas where on-street parking demand significantly exceeds supply and where it is not appropriate to manage parking problems using conventional parking restrictions. The criteria for implementing these are covered in the RPZ Policy and RPZ Operational Guidance.
In order for a Resident Permit Zone (RPZ) to be considered initially, the following criteria must all be met:
- There should be early evidence of resident and District Councillor support for an Resident Permit Zone (RPZ) (e.g. petition, build-up of email requests or letters)
- At least 50% of properties in the proposed area as a whole should have no off-street parking (survey required)
- The kerb space occupied by non-residents’ vehicles should be greater than 10% at times when parking problems caused by non-residents occur (survey required)
- There should be sufficient kerb space to enable a minimum of 50% of all households within the proposed scheme area to park at least one vehicle on-street (survey required).
In addition there should be section 106 funding identified to cover set up costs.
The process and timeline for implementing an Resident Permit Zone (RPZ) is broadly as follows:
| Action | Timeframe |
|---|---|
| Initial survey to assess parking behaviours, capacity and occupancy | 2-3 months |
| Scheme design, assessing location and possible restrictions | 2 months |
| Consultation with statutory bodies and informal consultation with residents to obtain feedback | 2 months |
| Scheme re-design where needed | 1-2 months |
| Formal consultation on proposals | 2-3 months |
| Analysis of results and formal decision to proceed | 2-3 months |
| Issuing of statutory public notices and setting of start date | 1-2 months |
| Implementation/ start | 1-2 months |
From start to finish bringing in a new scheme can take around 18 months. Please contact your District Councillor if you feel an Resident Permit Zone (RPZ) should be considered in your area.