South Hams District Council · District council
Transport Statements and Assessments in South Hams
What transport evidence a South Hams planning application needs, the parking standards that apply, and the policies an assessment should address.
Which document do you need?
National policy asks for a Transport Statement or a Transport Assessment wherever a development will generate significant amounts of movement.
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 South Hams District Council applies, taken from the source document below and checked against it row by row.
| Use | Car parking |
|---|---|
| C2 Convalescent/nursing homes | 1 space per 8 residents + 1 space per 3 non-resident staff + 1 space for any resident proprietor/manager. Provision for visitors will be determined on merits of each case. For nursing homes, attention will be paid to need for adequate servicing, particularly for ambulances, and additional staff. |
| C3 Communal housing for the elderly and less-able | 1 space per 2 dwellings + 1 space per warden |
| Holiday caravans (sui generis) and chalets (C3) | 1 space per unit. Additional spaces required where camping or other facilities are provided, or made available for non-residents. |
| A2 Offices providing services mainly to visiting people | 1 space per 30m² gross floorspace |
| B1 General business uses | 1 space per 30m² used by customers |
| Taxi and private hire vehicle offices (sui generis) | 1 space per staff/driver |
| A1 Large food and convenience goods shops (more than 999m²) | 1 space per 14m² gross floorspace |
| A1 Large non-food shops (more than 999m²) | 1 space per 20m² gross floorspace |
| A1 Medium food and convenience goods shops (370–999m²) | 1 space per 21m² gross floorspace |
| A1 Medium non-food shops (370–999m²) | 1 space per 24m² gross floorspace |
| A3 Restaurants and cafes | 1 space per 5.5m² used by customers |
| A4 Drinking establishments | 1 space per 2m² of floorspace used by customers for drinking. For dining floor space, the same standard will apply. |
| B2 Manufacturing | 1 space per 51m² gross floorspace. Lorry parking will be assessed on merits of each case. |
| B2 Small industrial units (less than 235m²) | 1 space per 44m² gross floorspace. Small industrial units, particularly of the grouped or court variety will need a separate assessment. Parking provision will normally be communal. |
| B8 Warehouses (larger than 2,500m²) | 1 space per 100m² gross floorspace. Lorry parking will be assessed on merits of each case. |
| B8 Warehouses (less than 2,500m²) | 1 space per 70m² gross floorspace. Lorry parking will be assessed on merits of each case. |
| C1 Hotels and guest houses | 1 space per guest room + 1 space for the resident proprietor/resident manager. Conference/function space will be determined on merit. Coach parking needs will be assessed on merits of each case. |
| C2 Hospitals | 1 space per 4 staff + 1 space per 3 visitors |
| Concert halls, casinos, community centres, and indoor sports facilities (larger than 1,000m²) | 1 space per 22m² gross floorspace |
| D1 Crèches, day nurseries or day centres | Attention should be paid to the safety of the children. Adequate facilities should be provided for the dropping off and collection of children. |
| D1 Doctors', dental and veterinary surgeries and other health services (excluding hospitals) | 1 space per practitioner, 1 space per 2 additional staff, and 2 spaces per consulting room |
| D1 Higher and further education | 1 space per 2 staff + 1 space per 15 students |
| D1 Libraries | To be determined on the merits of each case. |
| D1 Primary schools | 1 space per teacher + 1 space per classroom for support staff and visitors |
| D1 Secondary schools | 1 space per teacher + 1 space per classroom for support staff and visitors |
| D2 Cinemas and conference facilities (larger than 1,000m²) | 1 space per 5 seats |
| D2 Community centres (less than 1,000m²) | 1 space per 5.5m² of main assembly hall floor space |
| D2 Gyms (less than 1,000m²) | To be assessed on the merits of each case. |
| D2 Snooker, billiards and pool halls (less than 1,000m²) | 1 space per table + 1 space per 2 tables |
| D2 Squash courts (less than 1,000m²) | 1 space per court + 1 space per 10 spectator seats. Additional spaces may be required if a bar and/or other members' facilities are provided. |
| D2 Stadia (less than 1,500 seats) | 1 space per 10 seats |
| D2 Stadia (more than 1,500 seats) | 1 space per 15 seats |
| D2 Swimming pools (less than 1,000m²) | 1 space per 6m² of water area |
| Hostels (sui generis) | 1 space per 8 residents + 1 space per 2 non-resident staff + 1 space for any resident proprietor/manager |
| Motor repair garages, car sales, petrol filling stations and car washes (sui generis) | 1 space per staff + 3 spaces for each service/fitting/testing bay. 1 space per 10 cars displayed. Adequate provision shall be made for loading/unloading, servicing and fuel tanker supplies. For car washes, sufficient circulation space for waiting cars is required. |
Source: Plymouth and South West Devon Joint Local Plan Supplementary Planning DocumentAdopted 16 July 2020Figures 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 South Hams, may also apply to your site.
Plymouth and South West Devon Joint Local Plan 2014-2034
- SPT9Strategic principles for transport planning and strategy
- SPT10Balanced transport strategy for growth and healthy and sustainable communities
- SPT13Strategic infrastructure measures to deliver the spatial strategy
- TTV3Strategic infrastructure measures for the Main Towns
- DEV29Specific provisions relating to transport
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.