Further information – Bristol Workplace Parking Levy
Further information – Bristol Workplace Parking Levy
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.
Where will the levy apply
An exact location across which a scheme would operate is yet to be decided although the focus of a WPL will be on the city centre. The geography of the scheme will be developed as part of the work to construct the Outline Business Case.
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.
The development of a Workplace Parking Levy scheme involves three key stages:
- Outline Business Case (2025–2026) – 1 year
- Public Consultation and Full Business Case with approval (2026–2027) – 1 year to 18 months
- Implementation and Operation (2028–2029) – 1 to 2 years.
What will money raised from the WPL be used for
All money raised from a WPL must, by law, be invested into improving local transport for Bristol.
Any income would contribute to a series of essential transport projects aimed at improving bus journey times, as well as the quality and reliability of the city’s bus services, and other schemes such as extending the council’s programme to support more cycling and walking routes around the city.
The WPL project will be developed alongside BCC’s Transport Investment Strategy (which will guide future spending and prioritisation of transport projects) and the Transport Movement Plan (which will set out how Bristol will manage movement across the city, including walking, cycling and public transport schemes)
Who pays the WPL and how much will it cost
Employers who provide workplace parking places above a certain threshold would be liable to pay the levy. The threshold above which the levy applies is yet to be determined and will be settled on during the design phase of the scheme.
How much the levy will charge remains undecided. A charging model will be designed as part of developing the scheme for he business case. This work to develop the business case will also consider potential discounts and exemptions similar to those adopted as part of the Nottingham scheme and will include a 100% discount for the vehicles of Disabled Blue Badge Holders.
Frequently asked questions
A list of further questions and answers relating to the proposed WPL scheme are available to download at the top right of this page. This list will be kept updated as the development of the scheme progresses.
Further reading
Ten years on: Nottingham’s Workplace Parking Levy keeps the city moving ahead (My Nottingham News)
