Dominic Browne 07 January 2022

Leicester aims for workplace parking levy by 2023

Leicester aims for workplace parking levy by 2023 image
Leicester City Council has announced plans to introduce a workplace parking levy based on the Nottingham model.

Leicester City Council has announced plans to introduce a workplace parking levy based on the Nottingham model.

Under the scheme, which would start in 2023, most employers with more than 10 spaces would pay £550 per space per year. The cost could be passed on to employees.

The operating area would be the city council’s administrative boundary. Between 450 and 600 businesses across the city are likely to have to pay the levy, while around nine out of 10 companies in the area would be too small.

The income is expected to be around £95m over the first 10 years.

Any levy payments could only be spent on transport and would enable the city council to match-fund with other grants to create a £450m sustainable transport fund.

Leicester deputy city mayor leading on transport and the environment, Cllr Adam Clarke, said: 'A Workplace Parking Levy has been a consideration for some time in terms of addressing the city’s present and future transport needs, and it is clear it could play a major role in financing the kind of improvements set out in the draft Leicester Transport Plan, which are vital if we are to meet both the city’s transport needs and its environmental obligations.

'Nottingham City Council has valuable experience of a WPL over the last 10 years or so, which is why we’ve been working closely with them in designing a scheme for our own city.

'The benefits of reducing traffic in the city are easy to see – anyone commuting during the school holidays can see how much difference even a 10% drop in vehicle numbers makes.

'Of course, people need to know there’s a reliable, convenient public transport system available if they are to be persuaded to leave their cars at home, and the money raised by a WPL would enable us to make huge steps forward in delivering that over the coming years.

'The Government would have to give us approval to bring in a scheme, but the more people take part in this consultation, the better chance we have of ensuring it can address local needs.'

Pre-COVID-19, around £10m was raised a year by Nottingham's scheme, the UK's only existing workplace parking levy scheme. Since 2012, Nottingham has raised almost £80m and used this to attract a further £600m to invest in local transport.

This article first appeared on Highways Magazine.

SIGN UP
For your free daily news bulletin
Highways jobs

Housing Assurance Service Manager

Kirklees Metropolitan Council
£55,675 - £56,649
We’re building a brand-new assurance team in our Homes & Neighbourhoods service Kirklees, West Yorkshire
Recuriter: Kirklees Metropolitan Council

Trainee Public Health Practitioner

Kirklees Metropolitan Council
£24,404 - £24,790
Working within the Kirklees Public Health Improvement team Kirklees, West Yorkshire
Recuriter: Kirklees Metropolitan Council

Climate Change Officer

Kirklees Metropolitan Council
£40,476 - £42,708
Are you a passionate and enthusiastic Climate Change Officer Kirklees, West Yorkshire
Recuriter: Kirklees Metropolitan Council

Transition Home Manager

Durham County Council
Grade 13 £45,718 - £49,764 (Pay Award Pending)
Could you support young people to realise their individual potential and prepare them for their journey towards independence. NOT JUST A PLACE OF WOR Durham
Recuriter: Durham County Council

SEND and Inclusion Senior Specialist Support Worker (Communication and Interaction Team)

Durham County Council
Grade 8 £31,586 - £35,235 (Pay Award Pending)
We are recruiting a SEND & Inclusion Senior Specialist Support Worker to join our Specialist SEND & Inclusion Team. We would be particularly intereste Spennymoor
Recuriter: Durham County Council
Linkedin Banner