Cardiff takes action on parking

Cardiff Council’s City Parking Plan for the next 10 years has broader aims beyond managing where cars park. It seeks to discourage SUV ownership for safety and environmental reasons, encourage a reduction commuting by car and incentivise students not to take cars when they go to university. Rhodri Clark reports

Parking made news headlines in October 2025 after Cardiff councillors voted to bring in higher charges for residential parking permits for owners of SUVs. The news wasn’t a surprise, however, to residents or regular visitors who have observed decades of changes in the Welsh capital to improve mobility and air quality. The planned higher permit charge for vehicles weighing 2,400kg or more is part of a raft of parking policy measures the council intends to implement over the next 10...

+97% more