Bigger Cars Could Mean Fewer London Parking Spaces by 2040

London Could Lose 100,000 Parking Spaces as Cars Grow

Bigger Cars Could Put Pressure on London Parking Spaces, Study Warns London could lose up to one in seven on-street parking spaces by 2040 if cars continue to grow at their current rate, according to new research from Transport & Environment (T&E). The study warns that the increasing size of vehicles, particularly SUVs, could put additional pressure on already limited parking space while also affecting road safety and the use of public space. T&E describes the trend towards larger vehicles as “carspreading”, arguing that many city streets were not designed to accommodate increasingly large cars. Researchers found that the length of new cars has increased by an average of 1.2cm each year since 2000, while vehicle height, bonnet height and width have each risen by around 0.5cm annually. If that trend continues, the research estimates that cities could see their on-street parking capacity fall by between 8.5% and 14% by 2040. London could be particularly affected, with the study estimating that around 100,000 on-street parking spaces could be lost as vehicles continue to increase in size. The findings raise questions about how councils will manage parking provision if larger vehicles require more space on residential streets and in other areas where parking is already limited. T&E also linked the growth in vehicle sizes with road safety concerns. Its analysis suggests that returning cars to their 2015 sizes could avoid around 400 additional road deaths each year by 2040 across the UK and European Union. The research comes as London and other major European cities face competing demands for limited road space, including parking, public areas and measures intended to improve safety for pedestrians and cyclists. Anna Krajinska, T&E UK director, said car manufacturers had promoted larger and more expensive vehicles at the expense of smaller models. She argued that the trend could leave councils reshaping streets while sacrificing parking capacity, public space and safety. However, the findings have been challenged by motoring representatives. AA president Edmund King said drivers should choose vehicles that meet their needs while considering safety ratings, including those provided by Euro NCAP. King also pointed out that some larger cars can be safer for both occupants and pedestrians depending on their design, arguing that vehicle size alone does not determine how dangerous a car is. Mike Hawes, chief executive of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, said consumers ultimately influence vehicle design, with manufacturers responding to what buyers want. For drivers, the research highlights a potential longer-term issue for urban parking. If vehicles continue becoming larger, the number of cars that can be accommodated within existing on-street parking layouts could fall. The debate also puts greater attention on how parking spaces are designed and managed in major cities. With road space facing increasing demands, councils may have to consider how parking provision fits alongside wider transport and safety priorities. For now, the figures are a projection rather than a change to parking rules. But if vehicle sizes continue increasing, the study suggests that finding a space in London could become more difficult as fewer cars can fit within the same amount of kerbside parking.