Overview
- Under the Department for Transport plan, councils will be able in 2026 to issue Penalty Charge Notices for vehicles that unnecessarily obstruct pavements.
- Primary legislation is expected later to let authorities opt in to area-wide prohibitions, with discretion to exempt narrow streets to keep traffic flowing.
- The government says statutory guidance for fair and proportionate enforcement will be published by the end of 2026, with local rollouts likely from late 2026 into 2027.
- Local leaders in Birmingham, Merseyside, and Telford & Wrekin have welcomed the move but are awaiting details on how to apply the powers and resource enforcement.
- Police retain existing obstruction powers, while disability charities such as Guide Dogs and the Thomas Pocklington Trust highlight safety risks and some councillors warn about disruption in parking‑constrained estates.