News Archive
DfT announces plans to give councils stronger powers to tackle pavement (footpath) parking
- Tuesday January 13, 2026
The Department for Transport (DfT) last week announced plans to give councils across England, excluding London, stronger powers to tackle pavement (footpath) parking, which is a long-standing issue affecting safety and accessibility for the public.
The proposals will allow local transport authorities to introduce area wide pavement parking restrictions through a framework that is national in scope but local in implementation, moving away the street-by-street approach currently in place.
Blocked pavements cause a significant inconvenience, as they can force parents with pushchairs, wheelchair users, blind or partially sighted people and older people into the road. Creating a number of risks and limits independence for some.
Consultation evidence highlighted the level of the issue, as:
– 92% of local authorities said pavement parking is a problem
– 41% of individuals said they would leave home more often if it were addressed
DfT officials have confirmed that a permanent, devolved solution will require primary legislation. The department intends to bring this forward at the next available opportunity. Ahead of this DfT stated that secondary legislation will give councils new civil enforcement powers to act against the most outrageous cases of pavement parking.
These interim powers will not require councils to have additional signage and will sit with existing Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) powers. This change means that councils will be able to intervene quicker, closing a longstanding enforcement gap, allowing action to be taken wherever pavement obstruction creates safety or accessibility risks.
This approach recognises that local leaders and councils know their streets best, supporting safer, more inclusive streets while allowing flexibility where pavement parking may still be appropriate.
This is a significant step towards more accessible, people focused street management, and the Institute of Highway Engineers (IHE) will be following the development of statutory guidance closely.
Read the full consultation response at: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/managing-pavement-parking/outcome/pavement-parking-options-for-change-government-response