Cardiff Council could become the first local authority in the UK to charge higher parking fees for SUVs and large vehicles. The Welsh council is proposing increased permit costs for sports utility vehicles and cars weighing more than 2,400kg as part of efforts to reduce urban congestion and improve air quality.
The changes are expected to be approved at Thursday's cabinet meeting as part of a new parking policy. Current parking permits in Cardiff cost £35 annually for a first car and £90 for a second vehicle, though the exact surcharge amount for larger vehicles has not yet been revealed.
Environmental and safety concerns
The council report describes large SUVs such as Range Rovers as "more polluting, more expensive and more dangerous" and argues that owners "should pay more for permits". The policy aims to discourage the uptake of larger vehicles, which the report says are "fast becoming the norm in the UK".
Officials have raised concerns about increased risks of serious injuries in car crashes involving larger vehicles, their impact on traffic congestion and parking capacity, and higher fuel consumption. The report states: "The proliferation of oversized vehicles is of concern because of their multiple associated harms, including in relation to road danger, carbon emissions, air pollution, resource use and crowding out other road users."
Strong public backing and international precedent
According to GBNews, 66% of Cardiff residents support higher charges for larger vehicles in a recent council consultation. The policy follows the example of Paris, where GBNews reports SUV charges led to a two-thirds reduction in larger vehicle usage across the French capital.
The move comes as SUVs now represent 60% of new vehicle sales in the UK market, according to GBNews. Cardiff is believed to be the first UK city to formally put SUV parking charges to a cabinet vote, as reported by Bristol Post.
Sources used: "GBNews", "Bristol Post" Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
