The document did not specify how “unnecessary obstruction” would be defined – instead saying it would be at the discretion of council enforcement officers.
It added that there may be roads where some parking on the pavement is necessary to allow emergency vehicles to pass through.
Labour ministers argued this approach would mean local councils could shape policies in their areas, including on possible exemptions.
A government consultation found respondents were split on a proposed 20-minute exemption for vehicles making deliveries to businesses.
Some respondents felt councils would be unable to properly enforce the rules but “many would see it as a licence for councils to print money”, the document noted.
The previous Conservative government consulted on pavement parking in 2020, but no new powers were announced before Labour took office in 2024.
Living Streets, a charity that promotes everyday walking, said the new powers would allow “some quick progress after years of inaction” on the issue, but it was disappointed the announcement fell short of a national ban.
It added that enforcement at the council level would create “inconsistency for communities and drivers, which increases risks for everyone using our streets”.
