Overview
- Cardiff Council formally approved a workplace parking levy (WPL) as its preferred alternative to a congestion charge and put the proposal out for public consultation on Thursday.
- Council papers use a provisional figure of £750 per employer parking space for modelling and estimate the levy could generate roughly £10m a year, though both the charge level and revenue are subject to change.
- Key design questions remain open, including which employers will be liable, whether discounts or exemptions apply, and how the council will define liable spaces, so the scheme is still at an early stage and may not proceed.
- Local business leaders have criticised the plan as an extra cost that could be passed on to staff or customers, and the Welsh Government has declined to intervene, saying the decision rests with Cardiff Council.
- Nottingham is currently the only UK city with a WPL and its model is being used as a reference point, and the consultation will determine next steps and further impact analysis before any implementation decision.