A report on proposed changes to on-street parking in Liverpool city centre is set to be debated next week

Liverpool City Council is looking to modernise the city centre’s Controlled Parking Zone (CPZ) following a two-phase consultation process.

The Liverpool CPZ is a regulated area where on-street parking is restricted by law between the hours of 8am to 6pm. Under the new proposals, the operational hours would be extended from 7am to 11pm.

A report to the Council’s Cabinet next Friday (March 24^th) recommends the time extension should form part of a statutory consultation in mid-April; along with a proposed increase of 10p per half hour.

The proposed new charge – which is still lower than other major UK cities – would help to generate an additional £1.6m a year, which the Council would reinvest in city centre operations.

However, following feedback from the non-statutory consultation, which received almost 1,500 responses, the Council will no longer be looking at harmonising the entire CPZ to a two-hour maximum stay, with no return within one hour.

Instead, four hour stays will be introduced at a number of pay and display bays, with the aim of supporting businesses in the city centre’s night time economy.

The proposal to create sub-zones within the CPZ also will not be taken forward.

The proposals are also aimed at future-proofing the environmental resilience of the city centre, by reducing congestion and improving air quality, as well as improving safety and journey times.

Liverpool City Council, which officially declared a Climate Change emergency in 2019, has already undertaken a multi-million pound highways improvement programme to rebalance how the city centre is used by pedestrians, cyclists and public transport users which has led to radical changes to major roads such as Lime Street and The Strand.

Benefits of the proposed changes:

• The proposed extension to 7am-11pm aims to create more spaces for resident and business permit holders.
• Footway parking enforcement is possible where yellow lines are in force, which would extend into the evening.
• Kerb space will be made available to load/unload and allow passengers to board/alight.
• Blue Badge users will be able to park for up to 3 hours on yellow lines, in line with an 11pm extension.
• New parking opportunities in bays that are loading bays in the day and could be repurposed after 6pm.
• Greater availability of spaces will improve traffic flow and reduce congestion.

Depending on Cabinet approval, the Council will then seek to advertise a Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) consultation giving everyone another opportunity to support or object to the proposals before any changes are implemented.

Current on-street parking charges in the CPZ:

• Up to 30 minutes – £1.20
• Up to 1 hour – £2.40
• Up to 1 hour 30 minutes  – £3.60
• Up to 2 hours – £4.80
• Up to 4 hours (max stay) – £6.00

Mayor of Liverpool, Joanne Anderson said:

“Liverpool city centre has gone through an amazing transformation since the introduction of the existing Controlled Parking Zone in 1995.

“Our night time economy has boomed, but the population has also grown massively with more than 35,000 residents now living in the centre. To not address the car parking challenges these factors present would be foolhardy, and it’s a process that should have been addressed some time ago.

“The proposals that have been put forward are aimed at creating a better balance between the environmental and economic impact of on-street parking, which after 6pm creates real tension and frustration in the city centre for residents and businesses. And the monies raised will be used to invest in improving various services that makes the city centre tick.

“We understand any changes will not be met with universal acclaim, but habits need to change if we are to have a city centre that works for everyone. The provision of public transport and off-street car parking has grown and adapted – and will continue to do so, and we need to reflect that as well.

“The statutory consultation will be a great opportunity to continue to listen to feedback and review these proposals and refine them where possible, as we already have done following the initial, non-statutory consultation late last year.”