Vehicle access to the city centre pedestrian zone is controlled to help keep people safe from the hazards of moving traffic.
You do not need the authority of the Council to access the pedestrian zone between 4am and 8am. The authority of the Council is required at all other times.
Types of permit
General access
Provides access each day from 6pm to 8am, except Thursdays, when access is allowed from 8pm to 8am.
Pedestrian zone parking permits are virtual and registration specific, there is nothing to display. Registrations are checked using number plate reading systems.
A permit costs £35.50 per week (max 3 weeks) or £118 for a year.
Allow two working days for your application to be processed. You cannot access the pedestrian zone until you receive a permit activation email.
Emergency access
Provides anytime access to vehicles required to undertake immediate and critical work in response to a business emergency and/or activities to prevent danger/damage to the public or highway.
To apply for emergency access between 9am and 5pm Monday to Friday contact [email protected] (this email address is constantly monitored between these hours).
To apply for emergency access outside of these hours, dial 01752 668000 and select option 2.
There is no cost to access the pedestrian zone in an emergency.
Change of vehicle registration
Access is strictly registration specific. If you change your vehicle registration, you must update your permit using the provided permit number and PIN. Allow two working days for your application to be processed. You cannot access the pedestrian zone until you receive a permit activation email.
Terms and conditions
- A general access permit only allows vehicle access to the Pedestrian Zone every day from 6pm to 8am, except Thursdays, when access is allowed from 8pm to 8am.
- An emergency access permit allows anytime access to vehicles required to undertake immediate and critical work in response to a business emergency and/or activities to prevent danger/damage to the public or highway.
- Public liability insurance (minimum of £5,000,000) must be in place to cover any vehicle entering the Pedestrian Zone.
- The un-laden weight of the vehicle cannot exceed 7.5 tonnes unless otherwise agreed in writing by the Council.
- The vehicle must at all times be roadworthy with valid road tax, insurance and MOT.
- Vehicle speed must not exceed 10mph while traveling in the Pedestrian Zone. Pedestrians always have the right-of-way. Look out for children who may behave unpredictably.
- Vehicles must not travel in reverse gear, or perform U-turns, unless the activity is supervised by a banks person at an appropriate speed and in a controlled manner.
- The vehicle must not cause an obstruction or danger to pedestrians.
- Vehicles used for the purpose of loading or unloading should commence the activity immediately upon arrival within the Pedestrian Zone and should then leave the Pedestrian Zone as soon as loading or unloading is complete. Parking will not permitted at any time.
- Pedestrian zone permits remain the property of the council at all times, are non- transferable, not refundable and not for resale.
- Plymouth City Council will process all information in accordance with the requirements of the Data Protection Act 2018 and the EU General Data Protection Regulation. The authority will use any data collected for the purpose of processing and validating the relevant permit and other associated purposes. We are required by law to protect the public funds we administer. We may share/check this information with other bodies responsible for auditing or administering public funds, in order to prevent and detect fraud. These bodies include other council departments, other public authorities and other enforcement agencies.