City Council set to begin discussions about workplace parking levy

Discussions about the introduction of a workplace parking levy are set to get underway in Leicester.

Discussions about the introduction of a workplace parking levy are set to get underway in Leicester.

Leicester City Council is set to consult on a scheme that would charge organisations providing parking spaces for employees.

It would exist as a means of funding local transport improvements while helping to cut congestion and traffic pollution.

To date, Nottingham is the only UK city to have introduced a workplace parking levy. It has been in operation since 2012 and has brought in over £60 million, which the council has invested in public transport including tram, bus and railway station improvements.

Other local authorities – including Birmingham – are also actively investigating the possible introduction of a similar scheme.

Leicester City Council is also developing a new Local Transport Plan, which sets out the future transport vision for the city and how this could be funded, including potentially through a workplace parking levy.

Deputy City Mayor Cllr Adam Clarke said: “Like many cities, Leicester faces real challenges to improve air quality, cut congestion and encourage more people to make the shift to sustainable, clean transport options."

Leicester City Council is also developing a new Local Transport Plan. Credit: PA

City Mayor Peter Soulsby added: “While we have been extremely successful in attracting major funding from Government and other sources, a workplace parking levy would provide a reliable and ongoing source of locally-controlled funding to help us commit to ambitious, long-term transport improvements."

It's likely that a formal consultation on the possible workplace parking levy will take place in early 2021.

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