Car Parking Demand Assessments in Melbourne & Victoria
Justify Reductions & Optimise Layouts
Car Parking Demand Assessments
A car parking demand assessment works out how much parking a use actually generates, then sets that against what Clause 52.06 of the planning scheme requires. Where the two don't match, the report gives the responsible authority the evidence to grant a permit with fewer spaces.
Council and DTP want to know a reduced provision won't spill onto nearby streets or create a safety problem. We answer that with real demand figures, not just the statutory rate, so the report holds up at the council desk and at VCAT.
Why Fresh Engineering
- Traffic Management Designer (TMD) Cat 1, 2 & 3
- Accredited Road Safety Auditor
- 15+ years, council to Tier 1 projects
- AGTTM & Austroads compliant
- Melbourne metro & regional Victoria
How we assess demand
We confirm the Clause 52.06 statutory rate for each use, including any parking overlay or council precinct plan rate that applies. Then we measure likely demand from empirical surveys of comparable sites and the actual operating pattern of the use.
- Statutory rate under Clause 52.06, plus any overlay or precinct rate
- Empirical demand surveys at comparable sites
- Public transport, walking and cycling access
- Shared-parking opportunities across uses
- Provision tested against the statutory requirement
Justifying a reduction
A parking dispensation under Clause 52.06-3 lets the authority cut the requirement, even to nil, where it's justified against the decision guidelines. We quantify the real demand and show the reduced provision will operate without unreasonable impact on surrounding streets.
- Reduction quantified against the statutory figure
- Case built on the Clause 52.06-3 decision guidelines
- On-street parking conditions reviewed
- Layout checked against AS 2890.1, 2890.2 and 2890.6
- Expert evidence at VCAT where it's needed
What you receive
A permit-ready demand and supply report, written the way an assessing planner reads it. We flag any layout problems and can mark up the architectural plans before lodgement to head off a request for further information.
- Standalone demand and supply report
- Statutory requirement, assessed demand and reduction case
- Survey data and comparable-site evidence
- Bay, aisle, ramp and accessway compliance check
- Plan mark-ups to fix issues before lodgement
Frequently Asked Questions
When do I need a car parking demand assessment?
When a proposal can't meet the Clause 52.06 rate and you're seeking a reduction, or when council asks for one to support a new, intensified or change-of-use application. Uses like childcare, medical and hospitality often need one because the statutory rate fits them poorly.
How does a parking reduction under Clause 52.06 work?
Clause 52.06-3 lets the responsible authority reduce the requirement, even to zero, if the reduction is justified against the decision guidelines. We back that with empirical demand data and the site's transport access.
How long does an assessment take?
Usually one to two weeks once plans and the brief are confirmed. It runs longer where empirical surveys are needed, since those have to be done on representative days and avoid school and public holidays.
What is Clause 52.06?
It's the car parking provision of the Victoria Planning Provisions, so it appears in every planning scheme in the state. It sets the number of spaces each use must provide, the design standards for the parking area, and the mechanism at Clause 52.06-3 for the responsible authority to reduce the requirement where it's justified.
Can I reduce the parking requirement for my development?
Often, yes. If assessed demand is genuinely lower than the statutory rate, because of the use, the location or access to public transport, a demand assessment gives the responsible authority grounds to approve fewer spaces. What it needs is evidence, not assertion, which is why we base ours on surveys of comparable sites.
Do I need a traffic impact assessment as well?
Sometimes. If the application only involves a parking shortfall, a standalone demand assessment is usually enough. If it also changes access arrangements or adds meaningful traffic, council may want a full traffic impact assessment, and we'd combine the two into one report. We'll tell you which applies before quoting.
Get a Free Quote
Contact us for your Car Parking Assessment requirements.