Nottingham City Council has officially endorsed the introduction of its Workplace Parking Levy, confirming that the scheme will be introduced from 1 April 2012.
Businesses will be obliged to apply for a permit from 1 October 2011, but the WPL will actually come into operation six months later, to give businesses time to adapt and apply for permits.
“A phased introduction is beneficial for both the council and employers in Nottingham, making for a smoother introduction of the first WPL scheme in the UK and giving time for the economy to pick up,” said councillor Jane Urquhart, Nottingham City Council’s portfolio holder for transport and area working. “Employers will have an opportunity to become familiar with the licensing process in advance of having to pay a charge.”
The scheme, which will bill firms with more than 10 employee spaces more than £250 per space, is expected to raise around £14m to pay for public transport improvements, including a new tram network.
“Some businesses would prefer all residents to pay for public transport improvements through increased council tax or road user charging,” said councillor Urquhart. “But as most traffic congestion in Nottingham is caused by people driving to work, we believe it is only fair that employers contribute to providing better public transport, which is of particular benefit at peak time.”
