Written Question · S6W-13082 · Session 6
Whether it has conducted any research on the effect of parking charges on the future viability of high streets.
The question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has conducted any research on the effect of parking charges on the future viability of high streets.
The answer
It is the responsibility of individual local authorities to manage their own parking charges on the basis of local needs and priorities. Parking charges and restrictions can have many objectives, including managing both demand for space and the time that space is occupied, to ensure parking is available for those who need it most. The Scottish Government does not have a national policy on parking charges for public places however we are committed to finding ways to shift the balance towards sustainable travel, away from private car use. We are equally committed to tackling inequality and increasing opportunities for people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds to interact in improved areas of civic space. Reducing our reliance on private car use can significantly improve the places we live in and have great benefits for local high streets.
There is research on the topic, for example the Living Street’s Pedestrian Pound Report from Sustrans (2018) evidenced that local shops can benefit from their customers travelling car-free. https://www.livingstreets.org.uk/media/3890/pedestrian-pound-2018.pdf
Additionally, Transport Scotland has recently commissioned research through ClimateXChange to better understand the environmental, social and economic benefits of sustainable travel to local highstreets and town centres. The findings will be particularly valuable to local policy makers, local businesses and individuals and will support the Scottish Government policy to reduce car km in Scotland by 20% by 2030.
The routemap to achieving the reduction in car km was published in January 2022 and aligns with the ‘ Town Centre Action Plan Review – Joint response from Scottish Government and COSLA’ that sets out a new vision for town centres and outlines actions directed to better embed a ‘Town Centre First approach’ to ensure the economic, social and environmental health of town centres is at the heart of investment decision making. Further to this, the draft NPF4 recognises that our cities and towns are a national asset and strengthens support for development in town centres.
There is research on the topic, for example the Living Street’s Pedestrian Pound Report from Sustrans (2018) evidenced that local shops can benefit from their customers travelling car-free. https://www.livingstreets.org.uk/media/3890/pedestrian-pound-2018.pdf
Additionally, Transport Scotland has recently commissioned research through ClimateXChange to better understand the environmental, social and economic benefits of sustainable travel to local highstreets and town centres. The findings will be particularly valuable to local policy makers, local businesses and individuals and will support the Scottish Government policy to reduce car km in Scotland by 20% by 2030.
The routemap to achieving the reduction in car km was published in January 2022 and aligns with the ‘ Town Centre Action Plan Review – Joint response from Scottish Government and COSLA’ that sets out a new vision for town centres and outlines actions directed to better embed a ‘Town Centre First approach’ to ensure the economic, social and environmental health of town centres is at the heart of investment decision making. Further to this, the draft NPF4 recognises that our cities and towns are a national asset and strengthens support for development in town centres.
In the Official Report
No contribution in the Official Report cites S6W-13082 by reference.