In South Africa, parking is required at a minimum rate, based on a characteristic of the particular land use. Research has shown that this approach to parking leads to the promotion of car use, low density urban development and urban sprawl. South African land use and transport policy, however, advocates higher density developments, curbing of urban sprawl and the promotion of public transport above that of the private car.
This paper reports on an evaluation of the way in which parking is provided in South Africa, and in particular at Regional Shopping Centres. It found that GLA is only indicative of parking demand when the private car is the predominant mode of transport. It concludes that the desired urban form should be decided upon and that a transport system should be designed that will sustain that urban form. Parking can be provided at the appropriate level once the role of the car has been defined within the transport system.