Government-imposed limits on town centre parking spaces are to be scrapped to boost struggling high streets.
Until now, national parking restrictions set by Whitehall have dictated the number of spaces a council can grant, but this is set to change.

Communities Secretary Eric Pickles announced yesterday that a new draft entitled National Planning Policy Framework will do away with the anti-car restrictions introduced in 2001, allowing councils that want to attract customers to local retailers with more parking to do so without interference from central government.

The document aims to put more power back into the hands of local people, and urges councils to take into account the effect of parking charges on the vitality of their local economy and shops.

Mr Pickles said: "Families and local firms face a parking nightmare under existing rules. Stressed-out drivers have to run the gauntlet of parking fines, soaring parking charges and a lack of parking spaces. These parking restrictions have hit small shops the hardest, creating 'ghost town' high streets which can't compete with out-of-town supermarkets.

"We want to see more parking spaces to help small shops prosper in local high streets and assist mums struggling with their family shop. We are standing up for local high streets."

The British Retail Consortium (BRC) said ending centrally imposed restrictions on parking was "a good move, providing councils don't use extra spaces as a revenue raiser".

BRC director of business and regulation Tom Ironside said: "Accessibility is crucial to the success of town centres. Shoppers look for good transport connections and plenty of affordable parking. Councils should make use of this new freedom to provide more parking as quickly as possible in areas where it is needed - but it must be at the right price.

"It's short-sighted to treat parking as a revenue raiser. High fees - which take advantage of shoppers - risk driving away business from town and city centres. Putting up parking charges may look like an easy option for cash-strapped councils but they shouldn't be ignoring the wider impact on their communities and economies of the damage higher charges cause to town centres."

He added: "Income raised from parking should be reinvested in high street improvements to help reinvigorate town centres and benefit the whole community."