Reason for Policy change
Carbon emission-based permits are aimed at incentivising motorists to make more environmentally friendly transport choices and improve air quality in Camden, by reducing carbon dioxide and harmful particulates. For further information please visit Healthy Streets, Healthy Travel.
New parking permit charges explained
CO2 emissions will indicate which carbon emission tariff band you will be charged. A new low carbon emission band of 0-75g/km was introduced to encourage residents to shift from medium emission-based vehicles to lower emission-based vehicles where there is an essential need for motor vehicle use. Electric vehicle charges have up to 5% percentage reduction from the lowest emission based tariff band. Date of first registration and fuel type will determine if the Air Quality charge will apply. You can check your vehicle CO2 emission data, date of first registration and fuel type within your vehicle logbook (VQ5) or visit - Get vehicle information from DVLA - GOV.UK
Air Quality Surcharge Explained
The Air Quality Surcharge is an additional charge that applies to:
- Petrol Vehicles that do not meet the Euro 6 (the first registration prior to 1 September 2015)
- Diesel Vehicles that do not meet the Euro 6d and 6d- (the first registration prior 1 September 2019)
The surcharge is set as an additional 25% of the compliant permit price for petrol vehicles and 50% of the compliant permit price for diesel vehicles.
The Air Quality Surcharge is to discourage the ownership and use of older petrol and diesel cars because of their impact on air quality.
You can check your vehicle emission data and first date of registration within your vehicle logbook (VQ5) or visit - Get vehicle information from DVLA - GOV.UK
Key changes to Resident Permit
- Changes to emission bands, including the introduction of a new low carbon emission band of 0-75g/km;
- Changes to fees and charges
- Petrol vehicles that do not meet the Euro 6 standard and diesel vehicles that do not meet the Euro 6d and Euro 6d TEMP are subject to the air quality surcharge
- Residents are allowed to register one vehicle (either motorbike or car) on their resident permit. If you currently have more than one vehicle on your resident permit, please see the transitional arrangements below. Any eligible resident within a household can apply for a parking permit and therefore, for multiple occupancy households, residents can still apply for permits individually if the vehicle is registered to them.
Key changes to Visitor Permit
- Introduction of simplified emission-based charging with 3 tariff bands: electric, up to 120g/km and over 120g/km
- Changes to fees and charges
- Air Quality surcharge for older petrol and diesel vehicles.
- increased visitor permit allowances for concession customers (over 75 years old, disabled and/or blue badge holders) South of Euston Road. Terms and conditions apply
Key changes for Business Customers (Business B Permit customers)
- Introduction of the new emission-based tariff bands
- Changes to fees and charges
- Petrol vehicles that do not meet the Euro 6 standard and diesel vehicles that do not meet the Euro 6d and Euro 6d TEMP are subject to the air quality surcharge
- Businesses are allowed one vehicle (either motorbike or car) to be registered on a business permit; Businesses that require multiple vehicles for their viability can have multiple permits (current customers with multiple vehicles on permits please see the transitional arrangements section below)
- Business Visitor Permit is converted into an Hourly Business Permit for use by both businesses and visitors;
- The current allowance for Business Visitor permits would be retained, which is 120 hours in Controlled Parking Zones (CPZs) with 2 hours of controls and 500 hours for all other CPZs north of Euston Road.
Transitional arrangements for residents and businesses with multiple vehicles on their permit
Existing residents and businesses with more than one vehicle per permit have two years from the date of the next renewal (after 1 October 2024) to transition to new Terms and Conditions allowing one vehicle (either car or motorcycle) per permit; residents are allowed one permit account per household member; businesses can apply for multiple permits per business account subject to meeting the eligibility and essential need criteria.
Information for Scratch Card users
The Cabinet agreed to retain scratch cards for 'assisted customers' who are current users; however due to the introduction of emission-based charging for all parking products, the best way to obtain visitor parking is by booking a session via your Parking Permit Account. For builders, tradespeople, gardeners and other service providers, there is a dedicated parking permit called Trade Permit.
Cost of living crisis - support offers for residents
Recognising the current cost of living crisis, we are also developing a comprehensive support package to mitigate the increase in proposed charges for Camden residents impacted the most by the cost of living. Measures proposed under this include:
- Trade in your resident permit for Car Club membership under Permit2CarClub which offers 2 years free membership and some driving credits
There's also a range of support for those wishing to use different modes of transports such as adult cycle training, discounted offers for dockless bikes and e-scooters, Camden Try-A-Bike.
- ULEZ car and motorcycle scrappage scheme, which has recently been expanded to help all residents scrap eligible polluting cars, motorcycles and wheelchair accessible vehicle.
- discounts on cycle hire and try before you bike programmes
- Electric Vehicle charge point grant
- TfL Jobcentre Plus Travel Discount & Bus and Tram Discount
- ULEZ free trial offers for bikes
Support for Charity and Businesses
Camden Council have a range of existing support programmes that may help businesses within the borough.
- Discounts and exemptions for business rates and non-profit organisations
- ULEZ van and minibus scrappage scheme for Sole traders, small businesses, micro businesses
- Tax reliefs and allowances for businesses, employers and the self-employed.
- Camden Parking Permit trade-In for free car club membership and credits for business
Support for disabled and elderly residents
Those persons registered as disabled and residents older than 75 are eligible for 50% discounted Visitor permits and the allowance of 600 hours of short stay and 10 all day Visitor permits per individual currently offered for CPZs north of Euston Road is extended to CPZs south of Euston to accommodate increased needs for support in this residents group.
Camden offers a range of services that disabled and/or elderly people can use to get around easily without a burden of car ownership. These services include:
- The Freedom Pass which allows people aged 64 and above free travel across London and free local bus journeys nationally
- The London Taxicard scheme which provides subsidised taxi transport for people who have serious mobility or visual impairment and who have difficulty using public transport
- Additional schemes such as the PlusBus door to door and Scootability schemes available to this protected group
- Independent travel training
- Dial-a-ride (now bookable through the app as well as phone)
- Blue and Green parking badges
Blue badge holders living, working or studying in Camden do not pay permit charges and receive further concessions to support parking at certain hospitals.
In addition to Assisted Customer status for digitally excluded service users, the council offers a proxy user service where a service user can appoint a carer/family member/friend to act on their behalf regarding their parking account/permit matters.
ULEZ vs Camden’s emission based charges
The Ultra Low Emission Zone Charge (ULEZ) was introduced in April 2019 and is administered by Transport for London (TfL).
TfL’s aim with ULEZ is to help improve air quality by reducing the number of vehicles in London that don't meet emissions standards. However, ULEZ is based primarily on emissions of local air pollutants (NOx and particulate matter (PM)) and does not take account of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. Additionally, ULEZ does not differentiate between petrol vehicles registered after 2005 and diesel vehicles registered after 2015, even though some of these can be highly polluting.
Carbon emissions-based permits allow the Council to regulate levels of CO2 by charging a scaling pricing structure where the highest polluting vehicles pay a higher cost. The new Air Quality surcharge replaces the Diesel Surcharge and applies an additional fee for some vehicle permits. This enables the Council to better regulate emissions from older ULEZ-compliant vehicles that are likely to have higher NOx and PM emissions.