Councils in England are set to receive new powers to tackle pavement parking, a change welcomed by disability charities and local leaders. The initiative aims to make streets safer for wheelchair users, visually impaired people, and parents with pushchairs, who are often forced onto the road due to obstructed pavements.
Under the new rules, local authorities will be able to impose area-wide bans on pavement parking where it is a recurring problem, rather than addressing it street by street. This is intended to reduce bureaucracy and speed up enforcement. The Department for Transport has said guidance for councils will be published later in 2026 to ensure rules are proportionate and locally appropriate.
Transport Minister Lilian Greenwood stated: “Clear pavements are essential for people to move around safely and independently… That’s why we’re giving local authorities the power to crack down on problem pavement parking.” The Guide Dogs charity’s chief executive, Andrew Lennox, said cars blocking pavements are especially dangerous for people with sight loss and called for councils to use the powers “quickly and consistently”.
The RAC noted that most drivers agree pedestrians should not have to step onto the road due to selfish parking, but warned that councils should be able to allow limited pavement parking where it helps traffic flow without blocking pedestrians. Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands, described blocked paths as a serious safety risk.
However, some campaigners and councils cautioned that without extra resources, the crackdown could struggle. Tom Hunt, chair of the Local Government Association’s Inclusive Growth Committee, said pavement parking complaints are among councils’ most common and costly problems. The government has said the powers are part of a wider plan to make streets safer and more accessible.
