London proposes reducing office bike parking requirements

City developers have welcomed proposals from the Mayor of London to reduce the required amount of bike rack space in new office buildings. The London Property Alliance (LPA), which represents developers in the City and central London, supports these changes, arguing that the increasing popularity of e-bikes has made current requirements excessive.

Research conducted by the LPA across 21 buildings in the City, Canary Wharf, and central London revealed that 76% of existing cycle parking spaces were unused during peak times. This figure could have been higher if the buildings met the latest 2021 London Plan requirements, which mandate one long-stay bike space for every 75 square meters of office space.

Developers suggest that the surge in e-bike usage, citing providers like Lime and Forest, means fewer workers are bringing their own bicycles to the office. Simon Swietochowski, vice chair of the City Property Association, noted that policies designed to promote sustainable travel before the widespread adoption of hire-bikes and dockless e-bikes have resulted in significant underutilized storage space.

The current London Plan assumes 19% of employees cycle to work. The new draft London Plan, proposed by Mayor Sadiq Khan, aims to lower this figure to 10%. While this remains higher than the 6.5% observed by the LPA, developers view it as a positive step. These proposed changes could influence the design of new office buildings and the amenities they offer, potentially freeing up space for other facilities.