Traffic and streets

Traffic and streets

Workplace parking levy

Local traffic authorities have power under section 178 of the Transport Act 2000 (TaA 2000) to introduce workplace parking levy licensing schemes allowing them to charge the occupier of the premises for a licence for car parking spaces (licensed units) which are occupied by motor vehicles and provided for use by:

•
employees, agents, suppliers, business customers or business visitors of a relevant person
•
pupils or students attending training provided by a relevant person, or
•
a member of a body engaged in the carrying on of any of its business (where the body is a relevant person)

for attending a place where the relevant person carries on business (at or in the vicinity of the premises).

A licensing authority can create schemes covering the whole or part of their area, but it can only make a licensing scheme where it is desirable for the purpose of directly or indirectly facilitating the achievement of its local transport policies.

A licence cannot be granted for more than one year and may be granted subject to conditions. A licensing scheme must be confirmed

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Latest Planning News

Planning weekly highlights—18 September 2025

This week’s edition of Planning weekly highlights includes: court decisions in relation to the importance of procedural compliance in planning enforcement appeals, material considerations after a planning inquiry closes, and the duty to ‘seek to further the purpose of conserving and enhancing the natural beauty’ of AONBs/National Landscapes; Defra’s 2025 biodiversity duty statement; guidance on the environmental performance of historic buildings; analysis of the consultation for streamlining the NSIP planning process; and the introduction of the Planning (Wales) Bill to the Senedd.

Welsh Government publishes response to review of biodiversity duty implementation

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Court of Appeal clarifies when material considerations arising after a planning appeal inquiry must be taken into account by the decision maker (Re Keep Chiswell Green v Secretary of State for Housing Communities and Local Government)

Planning analysis: Once a planning inquiry closes, there may be several months before the decision is determined by the Secretary of State. New matters not raised at the inquiry but material to the appeal may arise or be discovered within such time. The Court of Appeal confirmed that in those circumstances a decision may be irrational, and therefore unlawful, should the decision maker fail to consider any such matter which is ‘so obviously material’. In other words, the matter is one that no reasonable decision maker would have failed to take into account in the circumstances. The irrationality may arise even when the consideration was not drawn to the attention of the decision maker. Written by Brendon Lee, partner at HCR Hewitsons.

Planning Practice Guidance on sequential testing approach in flood risk and coastal change updated

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