Andy Burnham, the Mayor of Greater Manchester, has backed a proposed tax on workplace parking spaces, with around a dozen town halls understood to be drawing up plans to introduce the levy. The charge would require employers to pay a fee for each parking space they provide to staff, with the cost likely to be passed on to drivers in some form, adding to the financial pressures already facing motorists.

The scheme follows the model pioneered by Nottingham, which has run a workplace parking levy for over a decade, using the revenue to fund public transport improvements including the city's tram network. Supporters argue the tax encourages a shift away from car commuting and raises money for local transport infrastructure, while critics warn it amounts to another burden on drivers and businesses already dealing with high costs.