Cardiff Council is planning to charge larger cars more for parking in the city.
People with bigger vehicles, like SUVs, would face extra surcharges, and for the first time, motorbikes would need permits to park in resident bays.
Cardiff University students who rely on personal transport have criticised this new plan, with others thinking it will encourage more public transport use.
The new “city parking plan” aims to reduce congestion, improve air quality and stop commuters from taking up spaces in residential areas, according to WalesOnline.
The proposal goes before Cardiff Council’s cabinet on Thursday, October 16, and if approved, would be rolled out in phases over the next decade.
What happens next?
The council says the new plan will make parking fairer and simpler, cut down on pollution and encourage people to switch to cleaner transport.
If approved, the parking changes could start being introduced in 2026, marking one of the biggest shifts in how Cardiff manages parking in years.
What else is changing?
The council also plans to create new parking zones across the city, introduce new permits for professional and unpaid carers, restrict commuter parking in residential areas, and merge Cardiff Bay and outer parking management areas
Cardiff will be divided into three parking management areas: the city and civic centre area, the inner area, and the outer area.
Each will have its own parking rules, including who can get a permit and what types of vehicles can park there.
All on-street parking in the city centre will be part of controlled parking zones, prioritising residents, blue badge holders, essential services and local businesses.
Residents will still be able to get visitor permits, but there will be a limit on how many can be used to stop misuse.
The plan goes to the environmental scrutiny committee on Thursday, October 9, before being discussed by the council’s cabinet the following week.
The council says it’s about ‘a greener, fairer future’
Cllr Dan De’Ath, Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Strategic Planning and Transport, said: “Our new city parking plan is a vital step towards a stronger, fairer, greener and more accessible future.
“By listening to residents and businesses we’re ensuring that our streets work for everyone – supporting local communities, tackling congestion and helping us meet our climate goals.
“This plan is about making Cardiff a better place to live, work and visit for years to come.
“But we recognise parking is a finite resource and difficult choices must be made to balance the needs of residents, businesses, visitors and vulnerable groups.”
He added that the plan would “encourage cleaner vehicles and sustainable travel, reduce commuter parking in residential areas, make parking rules simpler and ensure fair access for all, including those with additional mobility needs.”
‘We would definitely look at getting the train in more often’
Students have already been sharing their thoughts on the plans.
One Cardiff Uni student told The Tab: “Cardiff Council have bigger fish to fry. They need to focus on Cathays bins collections because a post-YOLO Angels 3am walk to T&A is not flattering when seagulls and rats have attacked every bag on the street.”
Another added: “I drive a compact SUV so not huge but I didn’t know this was a thing. My boyfriend lives near Cardiff and if the parking is going to increase we would definitely look at getting the train in more often.”
What happens next?
The council says the new plan will make parking fairer and simpler, cut down on pollution and encourage people to switch to cleaner transport.
If approved, the parking changes could start being introduced in 2026, marking one of the biggest shifts in how Cardiff manages parking in years.
The full press release and cabinet report can be found here.
For more of the latest news, guides, gossip, and memes, follow The Cardiff Tab on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook.
Featured image via Canva
