Northern Area Plan 2016
Coleraine Borough: Coleraine Parking

There are approximately 2,574 parking spaces, including those at Tesco’s and Dunnes, available for public use in Coleraine town centre, of which 630 (24%) are on-street. Most of these on-street spaces are unrestricted, having no time limit applied to them, and are well used. For much of the day, the central car parks are well utilised, while there is spare capacity in the more peripheral car parks including those at Railway Road and Railway Place.

In accordance with the Department’s policy to cater primarily for shortstay parkers in town centres, it remains the objective to reduce the number of unrestricted spaces in Coleraine, which together with the introduction of on-street charging in selected streets, and the use of a charging regime which discourages long stay parking, will actively favour the shorter stay visitor parker. Tariffs will be chosen to reflect the location of the car park in relation to the town centre, and at levels that will attract a mix of short, medium, and long stay parking.

A more structured and effective enforcement and management regime, to include improved signage such as an increase in the number of Variable Message Signs, will be put in place following the introduction of Decriminalised Parking Enforcement (DPE). The implementation of additional or amended waiting restrictions in the central area may displace some long stay parkers to peripheral areas that may be predominantly residential in nature. DPE will allow the Department to introduce permit schemes to facilitate parking for residents, and it is envisaged that this will be tested through the introduction of pilot schemes.

Parking supply and demand will be regularly reviewed in the light of the implementation of these proposals and the effects of DPE, and action taken as appropriate. However, if all proposed development materialises by the end of the Plan period, it is estimated that there will be a shortfall in the overall parking capacity in Coleraine of approximately 400 spaces, 200 short stay and 200 long stay. It is envisaged that the short stay spaces may be provided by the appropriate development of significant development opportunity sites within the town centre including The Mall, Abbey Street, and Waterside car park sites, which would include additional parking provision to that currently provided. The long stay spaces may be achieved by their provision within existing surface car parks including Railway Road where around 100 additional spaces could be added, or by their inclusion in the appropriate development of other opportunity sites on the edge of the town centre, including land currently within the Harbour complex.

A further important element of the parking strategy will be the development and extension of the current Christmas Park and Ride operation over a longer period at Christmas, but also in the peak summer period. The mechanism for this will be subject to examination and agreement with the relevant bodies. The provision of additional car parking for the exclusive use of passengers at Coleraine Bus & Rail Station will also be investigated.