Parking spaces will get even harder to find (From This Is Local London)

Parking spaces will get even harder to find

8:30am Thursday 23rd February 2006 in

• Skip social links
• Print
• Email
•  

PARKING in London, it's every driver's nightmare, and a new report warns that it's going to become even more frustrating in the future.

The London Housing Federation predicts in a new report that London will have 280,000 extra cars in 10 years time, as the capital's population swells by 800,000 by 2016.

Despite the controversial congestion charge, Londoners dissatisfaction with the public transport system means more people are relying on their cars to get around the capital.

The number of private parking spaces in London has remained the same for the past seven years, while the number of restricted on-street parking spaces has fallen by 27 per cent and unrestricted on-street spaces have dropped nine per cent.

But the high cost of land in the capital means that the majority of new housing developments will have limited parking.

Experts predict parking will increasingly become a source of conflict between neighbours competing for limited spaces.

A survey of potential homebuyers in west London revealed that more than 50 per cent would not buy a home with no parking provision.

Of these, 53 per cent said they might be tempted to give up their car if they lived close to good public transport.

However, dissatisfaction with public transport is high, with 43 per cent of potential homebuyers believing it's unreliable.

London Housing Federation regional manager Kate Dodsworth said: "Most households, in all kinds of housing, aspire to car-ownership.

"Even in parts of the capital, transport infrastructure and access to amenities simply isn't good enough to persuade people to ditch their cars.

"However, space is such a precious commodity in London that more and more new homes do not have any parking.

"We urge house builders to think creatively about alternatives to car ownership when designing new homes.

"Rather than accept increasing car-ownership as inevitable, we should focus on the many benefits of limited parking for both private and social housing - cleaner air, reduced congestion, a more attractive visual environment and healthier residents."