UK government plans to curb parking on new homes to push greener transport

The government is moving to overhaul England's national planning policy framework to require councils to limit the number of parking spaces on new housing developments, documents seen by the Daily Mail show. The plans, which the prime minister is weighing, would require local authorities to impose maximum parking standards on fresh housing schemes as part of a broader push to promote sustainable transport options such as public transit, walking, and cycling.

Under the proposals, councils would be mandated to set parking limits for new developments. The policy would adopt a more permissive approach to maximum standards but would remove the requirement for a clear and compelling justification where the standards support sustainable transport, optimise development densities in accessible locations, or help manage local road networks. The documents describe the change as a shift toward embedding facilities that prioritise sustainable transport and explicitly address the needs of older people, children, and people with disabilities.

The reforms are part of a broader consultation set to run through spring next year. Labour has framed the overhaul of England's national planning policy framework as a vehicle to accelerate housing delivery, arguing the changes align with its target of building 1.5 million new homes by the end of the current parliament. The policy would apply to new housing developments, with councils required to implement parking limits rather than merely suggesting them.

Historically, parking policy in England has swung between restricting and relaxing limits. In 2011, the coalition government scrapped council-imposed limits on parking spaces for new housing developments, saying the previous approach unfairly disadvantaged drivers. Five years later, the rules were tightened again, allowing parking limits only where councils could demonstrate a clear and compelling reason. The latest reform would reverse that requirement, positioning parking limits as a standard tool to influence transport choices rather than a policy that must be justified on a case-by-case basis.

The shift has drawn both support and backlash. Proponents say tighter parking standards could curb car dependence, reduce congestion, and support climate objectives by nudging residents toward buses, trains, cycling, or walking. Critics warn the move could heighten affordability pressures for drivers and, if not matched by adequate alternatives, push some motorists toward unsafe or illegal parking in search of scarce on-street spaces. Brian Gregory of the Alliance of British Drivers argued that the plan would intensify the burden on road users and could turn parking into a new revenue stream for local authorities, noting that existing road maintenance needs are already pressing in many towns.

Campaigners have pointed to potential equity concerns as well, stressing the need to ensure that older residents, people with disabilities, and families with young children retain reliable access to housing without facing disproportionate parking penalties. The government, however, has emphasized the inclusion of provisions to meet such needs and to support a shift toward more sustainable urban mobility.

Beyond the immediate housing policy, officials say the reforms reflect a wider strategy to rebalance transportation choices in line with climate and environment goals. By prioritising sustainable travel and reducing car dominance in new development, the administration aims to lower transport emissions and improve urban air quality. The consultation, which opened this winter, will gather input from local authorities, developers, and communities before a final policy direction is set for the next planning cycle.