Pavement parking has been a concern for residents outside London and Scotland for a long time. Finally, Councils outside London and Scotland are set to be able to enforce it after consultation and trials. Read more below, see the attached PDF and follow the Government website link to see more:
Ministerial foreword
Pavement parking is an issue that resonates deeply with communities across our country. From bustling city centres to quiet residential streets, the impact is felt by many, particularly people living with sight-loss, mobility or sensory disabilities, older adults, parents with young children and anyone who relies on safe, accessible pavements to move around independently.
I am grateful to all those – members of Parliament, local councillors, advocacy groups and members of the public – who have campaigned tirelessly to highlight the challenges posed by pavement parking. Your voices have been heard, and your experiences have shaped our understanding of the scale and importance of this issue.
I have heard first hand from individuals and communities who have been affected by this issue for far too long. Their stories were powerful and often deeply personal. They spoke not only of inconvenience, but of exclusion, of fear and of the loss of confidence that comes when public spaces are no longer accessible. These voices have stayed with me in my role at the Department for Transport and they have helped shape the approach we are now taking.
The government is committed to building safer, more inclusive streets. This consultation on pavement parking provided invaluable insights, making clear that this is not a niche concern but a national one: pavement parking undermines safety and restricts mobility.
I know that many people have waited a long time for meaningful action. I understand the frustration, and I share it. But I also believe that when we tackle a problem as complex and widespread as pavement parking, we must do so with care. We needed to listen to campaigners, to local authorities, to those with lived experience and we needed to ensure that any solution would be fair, effective and enduring. That takes time and I want to thank everyone who has remained engaged and committed throughout this process.
The government is taking forward a new, devolved approach to pavement parking, reflecting our commitment to decisions being made closer to the communities they affect. Local leaders know their communities best, so they are in the strongest position to figure out how to meet local needs effectively.
While the overarching objective to make pavements accessible and safe remains unchanged, rather than introducing a ‘one size fits all’ national prohibition, which was one of the consultation options, we will enable local transport authorities to prohibit pavement parking in their areas at the next legislative opportunity. In strategic authority areas outside of London, the power would be vested in the strategic authority. In non-strategic authority areas, the power will vest in the highest tier of local government in the area – the unitary authority (which also includes metropolitan district councils) or county councils. This will support more responsive and inclusive transport planning in the interests of local communities.
In the meantime, we will be enabling local authorities to enforce against unnecessary obstruction of the pavement. This provides a practical and proportionate solution, allowing councils to act where pavement parking is observed by uniformed civil enforcement officers, while retaining local discretion and flexibility.
These are significant steps, which I am proud to have achieved. But they are also part of a broader journey towards streets which are safer, more inclusive, and more respectful of everyone who uses them. Tackling pavement parking is not just about enforcement, it’s about changing attitudes, improving design and recognising that public space should serve the public fairly.
Thank you to everyone who has contributed to this work. Your insight, your persistence and your lived experience have been vital. I remain committed to working alongside you as we continue to build a transport system – and a society – that works for everyone.
Lilian Greenwood MP
Minister for Local Transport
Source and further reading:
Ministerial foreword
Pavement parking is an issue that resonates deeply with communities across our country. From bustling city centres to quiet residential streets, the impact is felt by many, particularly people living with sight-loss, mobility or sensory disabilities, older adults, parents with young children and anyone who relies on safe, accessible pavements to move around independently.
I am grateful to all those – members of Parliament, local councillors, advocacy groups and members of the public – who have campaigned tirelessly to highlight the challenges posed by pavement parking. Your voices have been heard, and your experiences have shaped our understanding of the scale and importance of this issue.
I have heard first hand from individuals and communities who have been affected by this issue for far too long. Their stories were powerful and often deeply personal. They spoke not only of inconvenience, but of exclusion, of fear and of the loss of confidence that comes when public spaces are no longer accessible. These voices have stayed with me in my role at the Department for Transport and they have helped shape the approach we are now taking.
The government is committed to building safer, more inclusive streets. This consultation on pavement parking provided invaluable insights, making clear that this is not a niche concern but a national one: pavement parking undermines safety and restricts mobility.
I know that many people have waited a long time for meaningful action. I understand the frustration, and I share it. But I also believe that when we tackle a problem as complex and widespread as pavement parking, we must do so with care. We needed to listen to campaigners, to local authorities, to those with lived experience and we needed to ensure that any solution would be fair, effective and enduring. That takes time and I want to thank everyone who has remained engaged and committed throughout this process.
The government is taking forward a new, devolved approach to pavement parking, reflecting our commitment to decisions being made closer to the communities they affect. Local leaders know their communities best, so they are in the strongest position to figure out how to meet local needs effectively.
While the overarching objective to make pavements accessible and safe remains unchanged, rather than introducing a ‘one size fits all’ national prohibition, which was one of the consultation options, we will enable local transport authorities to prohibit pavement parking in their areas at the next legislative opportunity. In strategic authority areas outside of London, the power would be vested in the strategic authority. In non-strategic authority areas, the power will vest in the highest tier of local government in the area – the unitary authority (which also includes metropolitan district councils) or county councils. This will support more responsive and inclusive transport planning in the interests of local communities.
In the meantime, we will be enabling local authorities to enforce against unnecessary obstruction of the pavement. This provides a practical and proportionate solution, allowing councils to act where pavement parking is observed by uniformed civil enforcement officers, while retaining local discretion and flexibility.
These are significant steps, which I am proud to have achieved. But they are also part of a broader journey towards streets which are safer, more inclusive, and more respectful of everyone who uses them. Tackling pavement parking is not just about enforcement, it’s about changing attitudes, improving design and recognising that public space should serve the public fairly.
Thank you to everyone who has contributed to this work. Your insight, your persistence and your lived experience have been vital. I remain committed to working alongside you as we continue to build a transport system – and a society – that works for everyone.
Lilian Greenwood MP
Minister for Local Transport
Source and further reading:
