How does a workplace parking levy (WLP) work?

A:

A Workplace Parking Levy (WPL) is a charge on employers who provide workplace parking, a type of congestion charging scheme that has been introduced in Nottingham.

To date, Nottingham is the only UK city to have introduced a WPL. The council has invested in public transport including tram, bus and railway station improvements.

Nottingham’s rate is £415 per parking space per year, which has generated around £64m since 2012.

Multiple UK cities and towns are considering workplace parking levies (WPL) as a way of tackling air quality and emissions targets and raising money to invest in sustainable transport projects.

Leicester, Reading, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Cambridge, Bristol and Hounslow and Camden in London have all confirmed that a WPL is under consideration.

It will put further focus on fleets to consider alternative mobility options for employees in city centre office locations, alongside their future planning on how to mitigate the impact of other measures like clean air zones (CAZs) and congestion charges

Under Government regulations, the charge is levied on employers with 11 or more parking spaces and they can choose to either pay it themselves or pass it down to employees.

By law, any revenue has to be spent on improving transport to increase options for commuters.