Express & Star

Parking spaces to be banned to encourage Londoners out of cars

London Mayor announces plan to ban private car parking for new housing developments and offices in areas with good public transport links

Published

A parking space ban is set to be placed on new developments across London in an effort to get people out of cars.

Announced by the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, in his draft London Plan, the ruling will require new housing and office buildings in well-connected areas of the capital to be ‘car-free’. This is part of an effort to reduce the number of private vehicle journeys across the city.

The mayor wants to increase the proportion of trips in London made on foot, by bicycle or via public transport from the current 64 per cent to 80 per cent by 2041.

Parking exceptions will be made for “disabled people and for essential delivery and servicing purposes”, although any spaces created will have charging points for electrified vehicles.

New taxi spaces will also be required to have charging support for electric vehicles, in an effort to meet Khan’s target of carbon-free travel by 2050.

He said: “To secure the future health and prosperity of our city, we need to be bolder in encouraging people to reduce their reliance on cars. It’s essential for dealing with congestion as London’s population grows, and crucial for reducing our toxic air pollution emissions.

“Currently only around a third of Londoners do enough walking and cycling each day to stay healthy. Reshaping our city around walking, cycling and public transport is essential for getting more Londoners active, but will also improve our quality of life and the environment for everyone.”

Sorry, we are not accepting comments on this article.