HOUSEHOLDER PROPERTY PROJECTS AND ALL RESIDENTIAL CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS IN CAMBRIDGESHIRE TO BE FRUSTRATED AND DELAYED DUE TO CHANGES IN PARKING POLICIES.
 
On 18th November 2021 Cambridgeshire County Council introduced changes to their Trade parking policy. As of this date builders / trades can only have a maximum of 2 parking permits per day on any construction / householder property project and this is limited to 2 vehicles only. These permits must be applied for 3 days in advance online and will cost £8 per day per permit. 
 
This is a change to the previous policy where building companies could have up to 10 trades onsite per day at a cost of £5 per day. Before April 2021 the cost was £2.40 per
day.
 
The County Council have said that if more than 2 vehicles / trades are needed on site then it is the property owner’s responsibility to apply for Visitor Permits. These however are capped at 20 per annum and if you don’t live at the property you are not eligible meaning you are limited to 2 trades each day for the whole duration of your project. 
 
WHAT IMPACT WILL THIS HAVE ?
 
-       Significant cost increase for anyone planning works to their property.
 
-       Any project that that will take longer than 100 man days, for example, building an extension, loft conversion etc will not be possible as your builders won’t be able to park.
 
-       If you can find a builder / trade that will take on your project be prepared for a much longer build period, with 2 trades on site a standard 3-6 months project will now take 12-24 months minimum.
 
-       The changes will also put many builders / trades out of business, as they won’t be able to take on larger projects due to the limits around parking and their vehicles. After Brexit there is already a lack of trades in the UK, do we want to reduce this number further ? 
 
-       The changes will also put many house builders / developers out of business, with protracted time periods needed to build houses, projects will not be profitable and they will simply choose to build elsewhere in the country. This will limit housing supply further in Cambridgeshire. 
 
-       Construction projects and activities are a vital sector to the Cambridgeshire economy. Without a thriving construction sector we will not meet increasing housing pressures. The Council should be supporting the construction industry rather than imposing poorly considered restrictions. 
 
-       We urge the Council to reconsider the policy to allow more than 2 vehicles per day and to allow construction to continue in Cambridgeshire without unnecessary restrictions. 

Cambridge is mainly residents only so finding alternative non restricted parking will be difficult, also van thefts have been more an more common over the recent years, having to park vehicles away from the workplace puts trades vehicles more at risk as they cannot be monitored. 
 
PLEASE SIGN THE PETITION TO SHOW YOUR SUPPORT & TO URGE THE COUNCIL TO RECONSIDER THIS RIDICULOUS POLICY.