To qualify for a disabled parking space
You must:
- have a blue badge, with at least three months before the expiry date
- have a vehicle registered at the address
- have a vehicle that is suitable for your needs
- not have use of a driveway, access or garage at the property, or alternative parking facilities adjacent to, your address
How do I apply?
Before applying, please consider how often you find it difficult to park close to your own home? If you never, or rarely have a problem, then you probably do not need a bay. Bays should only be provided for those who regularly find it difficult to park near their home.
If you do have a need for a disabled parking bay, download an application form or contact us to request an application form by post.
You must then submit the application form to RoadsDPPP@northlan.gov.uk or to the postal address supplied on the form, ensuring all details are complete and provide proof that you have a vehicle registered at your address. We are unable to validate an application without this.
Providing an email address will enable us to process your application quicker.
Requests to refurbish an existing bay will be processed in the same way as a new application. This allows the council to carry out its legal duty to review the continual need for the bay.
Proof of vehicle at the address
Providing proof of a vehicle registered at an address can usually be demonstrated by a photocopy of a vehicle’s V5C (log book) document. However, where this is not available, a copy of a mobility car lease scheme letter, a car lease document, or a company letter (on headed paper with company stamp) is acceptable, so long as it details the vehicle registration and applicant’s address.
If you meet these criteria, we will carry out a site assessment to establish if a bay can be safely provided close to the address.
Site assessment
The site assessment will consider a number of factors, including (but not exhaustive to) the below.
- Current parking trends
- The proximity of, and number of existing nearby disabled bays
- Proximity to adjacent driveways
- Geometry of the road
- Existing parking restrictions
- Road Safety concerns
A bay cannot be provided if:
- the bay would be located within 10 metres of a junction
- the bay would be located within a turning facility
- the bay would be likely to cause an obstruction
- the road is less than 5.5 metres wide
- the number of disabled parking bays would exceed 50% of all available spaces
- the bay would not be located on the public road network (in such cases where the request is for Housing land, the application will be passed to Housing Services to consider whether they can provide a solution)
What we will do
Following the assessment, we will write to inform you whether the application is approved or refused.
If an appropriate location can be identified, a bay will be marked for blue badge holders only. It should be noted that the bay will, initially, be advisory only, and our Parking Attendants are unable to enforce these until the bay is included in a Traffic Regulation Order (TRO). The bay will be marked at the closest appropriate point on the public road network to the address of the applicant.
To allow the bays to be legally enforced, we will promote a Traffic Regulation Order (TRO), which is a lengthy statutory process. The order will be advertised in the local paper and allows people to object to the location of the bay. (please note, we no longer provide a supplementary sign).
At this point, the disabled bay can legally be enforced by parking attendants. You should be aware however that the bay is not for the badge holder’s sole use and can be used by anyone who displays a valid blue badge. Your blue badge will have to be displayed at all times when the vehicle is parked within the disabled bay.
If your application is refused, we will provide the reasons for this.
Timescales
Indicative timescales for the process (from receipt of a valid application and supporting information):
- Site assessment - 1 month
- Marking of the bay (allows for adverse weather events and parked cars preventing the marking of the bays) – 1 to 3 months after approval.
- TRO conclusion - 9 to 15 months (depending on objections received).
