East Lothian Council · Scottish council
Transport Statements and Assessments in East Lothian
What transport evidence an East Lothian planning application needs, the parking standards that apply, and the policies an assessment should address.
Which document do you need?
In Scotland, NPF4 Policy 13 requires a transport assessment wherever a development will generate a significant increase in the number of person trips, undertaken in accordance with the relevant guidance.
Transport Statement
A shorter document for smaller schemes where transport issues are limited: access, parking, trips and sustainable travel.
Transport Assessment
A full assessment for larger schemes: trip generation, network impact, junction capacity and mitigation.
Parking standards
The standards East Lothian Council applies, taken from the source document below and checked against it row by row.
| Use | Car parking |
|---|---|
| Class 8 - Residential Institutions/nursing homes (not sheltered housing) | 1 per 3 beds |
| Class 10 - Libraries | 1 per 2 staff plus 1 per 33sqm PFA |
| Class 10 - Primary schools/nurseries | 1 per 2 staff |
| Class 7 - Hotels and hostels (including student accommodation) | 1 per bedroom plus provision for bars etc. |
| Class 9 - Housing - affordable | As "Housing (including flats)" ‐ unless otherwise agreed |
| Class 9 - Housing (including flats) | 1.5 per unit with 5 or fewer habitable rooms, else 2.25 per unit ‐ each to have at least 1 private parking space |
| Medical Centres | 4 per consulting room plus 1 per 2 staff |
| Use | Long-stay cycle parking | Short-stay cycle parking |
|---|---|---|
| Class 8 - Residential Institutions/nursing homes (not sheltered housing) | On merit | On merit |
| Class 10 - Primary schools/nurseries | 1 per 10 staff | 1 per 15 pupils |
| Class 7 - Hotels and hostels (including student accommodation) | 1 per 20 bedrooms plus provision for bars | On merit |
| Class 9 - Housing - affordable | Require garage/garden and access. Otherwise bike store required | – |
| Class 9 - Housing (including flats) | Require garage/garden and access. Otherwise bike store required | – |
| Medical Centres | 1 per 15 staff | 1 per 3 consult. rooms |
Source: East Lothian Council Parking StandardsFigures checked against the published document on 6 November 2026Selected tables: the source document has the full standards
Policies your assessment should address
The transport policies of the development plan documents in the summary panel. A neighbourhood plan, or a plan for one part of East Lothian, may also apply to your site.
National Planning Framework 4
- Policy 13Sustainable transport
East Lothian Local Development Plan 2018
- T19Transport Improvements at Musselburgh Town Centre
- T2General Transport Impact
- T4Active Travel Routes and Core Paths as part of the Green Network Strategy
- T6Reallocation of Road Space and Pedestrian Crossing Points
- T8Bus Network Improvements
- T23Transport Improvements at A198, Meadowmill Roundabout & Bankton Interchange
- T26Transport Improvements at Tranent Town Centre
- T29Town Centre Parking Strategy
- T31Electric Car & Bus Charging Points
- T32Transport Infrastructure Delivery Fund
- NH12Air Quality
- NH13Noise
- DEL1Infrastructure and Facilities Provision
This page summarises adopted policy and links to the source documents. It is not legal advice: always confirm a figure against the adopted document before relying on it.