Information about the project to explore a workplace parking levy for Bristol.
In September 2024, the Transport and Connectivity policy committee approved to spend up to £1 million on the stage one development of a workplace parking levy (sometimes shortened to WPL) project, including preparation of an outline business case. It was agreed this would be funded from Clean Air Zone revenue funding.
What a workplace parking levy is
A workplace parking levy is an annual charge paid to the Local Transport Authority, which in Bristol would be Bristol City Council, by employers on any parking spaces they provide at their workplace. It's administered by a licensing scheme.
The aim is to encourage employers to manage the number of workplace parking spaces they provide, and promote the use of sustainable transport.
Why we're exploring a workplace parking levy
Bristol faces significant challenges around traffic congestion, air quality, and the need for improved transport choices across the city.
We're exploring a workplace parking levy because traffic congestion:
- makes it harder for local businesses to compete
- creates challenges for accessing businesses
- stops people getting to work easily
- slows down deliveries which means goods take longer to reach businesses
- overall, costs local businesses and the economy millions of pounds every year
- has a significant negative impact on the environment and climate, and the health and lives of citizens
The levy's aim is to offer realistic alternatives to using private cars by delivering high quality sustainable transport options using the revenue generated from the scheme.
How we're developing a workplace parking levy
We're currently developing an Outline Business Case (OBC) for the scheme. The OBC will evaluate the feasibility and value of the proposed project, detailing its objectives, costs, benefits, and risks.
When the workplace parking levy will begin
No decision on whether to introduce a workplace parking levy scheme has been made yet.
We're currently in the discovery phase of the project and spending time learning about the range of factors that go into designing a scheme for Bristol.
Updates on the scheme's progress will be published on this page and discussed in public meetings of the Transport and Connectivity policy committee. It's this committee that will have the final decision on the possible introduction of a scheme when an informed proposal is ready for presentation.
There are 3 main stages to the development of a workplace parking levy scheme which are outlined below:
- Outline Business Case: April 2025 to April 2026 (1 year)
- Public Consultation, Full Business Case and Scheme Approval to Secretary of State for Transport: May 2026 to December 2027 (1 year to 18 months)
- Implementation and operation: January 2028 to January 2029 (1 to 2 years)