Forum Topic

New study finds cycle lanes boost house prices

Now we all know that the majority of people support cycle lanes but that there remains a small minority of stubborn naysayers who remain unmoved by the joy of children cycling safely to school, lower pollution, reduced congestion, safer streets, healthier and happier people but surely this will be the benefit that tips even those malcontents over the edge.Proximity to a cycle lane can increase house prices up to 8%. A pretty return for the curmudgeons on Wavendon, Foster, Hadley Gardens, Eliot Rd etc. nevermind the pearl clutchers of Bedford Park. I knew you'd thank me in the end.You're welcome.https://pureportal.bcu.ac.uk/en/publications/the-amenity-value-of-bicycle-infrastructure-a-hedonic-application

Paul Campbell ● 19d16 Comments

Thanks for providing that information.I read the Attfield v LB Barnet judgement, it doesn't quite say that permit schemes can't raise more money than they cost to administer, and a surplus being generated from a scheme isn't inherently illegal.It was determined that it's illegal for the council to have increased the parking charges for the purpose of  increasing the level of the surplus generated.From what I've read, my understanding  is that the differential pricing of parking permits/charges e.g. charging more for vehicles with higher CO2/NO2 emissions, charging higher prices for 2nd permits etc. isn't inherently illegal, even though the cost of administering the scheme would be no different for these vehicles.

Andrew Jones ● 3d

We need house prices to come down, not go up..

Michael Brown ● 3d

Hit send too early. Shared use pavementa are really common. There is simply no room for dedicated cycly lanes. Two other things thay have right are the penalties for drink/drug driving and (non handsfree) mobile phone use while driving.Get caught drunk behind the wheel (the limit is a third of the UK level) and you can be looking at five years imprisonment for the first offence. Use a phone behing the wheel? Six months inside and a £1000 fine is common.

N V Brooks ● 19d

Of course, if you knew Tokyo, I do having worked there, albeit briefly, for Nikon in Shinagawa-ku , you would know that the situation is wholly different in that the density of accomodation is higher than probably anywhere else in the world. The UK, as example, has almost three times the habitable area of Japan. The 'megalopolis' that is Tokyo/Yokohama has to have some of the best, albeit busiest, public transport in the world as there simply is no room for car parking at any price.Incidentally did you know that every cycle in Japan has to be registered, helmets are mandatory and the fines for riding on the pavement/ breaking traffic laws although lower than the UK are stringently enforced.

N V Brooks ● 19d

Of course, Rancid Robinson might want to check the law in CPZ charges before he goes off on one of his self-righteous rants.Resident parking schemes are not revenue raising mechanisms. The case of Attfield v LB Barnet established this very clearly in 2013. Otherwise it’s a tax, which is outside the council powers.In fact, permit schemes aren’t supposed to raise more money than they cost to administer, but a blind eye is turned to that. Really councils should be reducing the charges.Perhaps a charge for eejits with heads made of boiled bacon would work better.

Simon Hayes ● 19d

CPZs are going to be a very useful tool for management of the urban fleet in the future. You just whack up prices for the biggest luxury vehicles causing the most pollution and taking up the most space. The proceeds can actually be used to fund Freedom Passes and other things. No decent person would object to that.

Paul Campbell ● 19d

No Russell most of those people in cars do not object to cycle lanes. We know that the majority of people support cycle lanes from numerous surveys. People like me in fact. It's very simple-minded to believe that people in cars don't like cycle lanes.I'd have thought that a guy like you would be much more comfortable being in a minority than you are.

Paul Campbell ● 19d

It is about charging an appropriate price for storage of private property on public land.The permit for a skip in Hounslow is £118.15 for 2 weeks but put 4 wheels and an engine on the skip and call it a car, then it is £90.25 for year, even if it never moves. Of course in Japan, residents aren't permitted to have a car unless they have off-street parking as the streets there aren't for storage of private property.

Michael Robinson ● 19d

That would be the curmudgeons who hate cars - on average 6 million Londoners a day drive or are passengers in one.https://content.tfl.gov.uk/technical-note-14-who-travels-by-car-in-london.pdf

Russell Pearson ● 19d

As I understand it CPZs exist to prioritise  the interests of residents. The cost of permits is supposed to be set at a rate that covers the cost of implementing the  scheme and nothing more.

Bruce Hammal ● 19d

Absolutely a very small % of properties have drives so the council has to factor that in when charging. We pay council tax which will be going up.

Jayne Thorburn ● 19d

It's not that simple though is it? - The high price for off-street parking simply reflects that the council is prioritising local residents access to parking over that of outsiders.

Andrew Jones ● 19d

Yes Bruce, if you look at JustPark.com you can see how much  people are charging to rent out their off street parking. For example,  £501 a month on Dukes Ave,  £268 on Barrowgate Rd. These prices are considerably more than the cost of a CPZ permit in the same street so the inescapable conclusion is that the council is subsidising resident car parking by charging far less than the market price.A CPZ permit should really be a couple of hundred of pounds a month rather than a paltry £90 a year.  That low price is just the type of socialism that I’d hope our local Conservative councillors would object to.I’m sure the local Conservatives in particular will be calling on the council to charge closer to market rates.

Michael Robinson ● 19d

A secure bicycle shed on your property also helps boost its value.

Richard Greenhough ● 19d

Yes, nothing adds value like either off-street parking or garage space. Enables you to watch the under-achievers getting wet and cold.

N V Brooks ● 19d

Meanwhile.According to data from estate agents Yopa, a driveway could boost the value of your property by as much as 10%, with London homeowners potentially adding up to £52,559 to their home's worth.

Bruce Hammal ● 19d