Overview
- The Department for Transport confirmed it will introduce legislation in 2026 enabling councils in England to penalise drivers who cause “unnecessary obstruction” of pavements, with enforcement by uniformed civil officers.
- New powers allow area-wide controls rather than slow street-by-street orders, while retaining flexibility for exemptions on narrow residential streets where limited footway parking helps traffic flow.
- The DfT will publish guidance later in 2026 to ensure proportionate, locally appropriate use of the powers, meaning rollout and timing will vary by council.
- Ministers and campaign groups cite safety and accessibility for wheelchair users, parents with prams, and blind or partially sighted people as the core rationale, with Guide Dogs and Living Streets welcoming the change.
- Pavement parking is already illegal in London and has been enforced by Scottish councils since December 2023, with penalties typically £60–£130; where English councils already act, fines often reach about £100.