The cost of residents’ parking permits is set to rise under plans revealed by Devon County Council.

If approved, the price of permits will increase to £35 for a property’s first vehicle, a rise of £5. Second permits will then be priced higher depending on the vehicles’ carbon emissions, while extra permits on top of that will cost £65.

All residential permits currently cost £30; a price the council says hasn’t increased since 2015. The price for a business permit for one vehicle is also going up to £35.

Explaining the move, the county council said the consumer price index has increased approximately 19.5 per cent since the last rise – more than the planned base permit increase of approximately 17 per cent.

Under the proposed new scheme, which follows a public consultation, the only residential permits that will be priced according to a vehicles’ carbon emissions will be the second one in a household.

They will be £45 for electric and low-emitting vehicles in Band A (less than 100g/km), £55 for Bands B – K (101-225g/km) and £65 for the worst emitting vehicles in Bands L – M (226+ g/km)

A property’s first permit will be £35 irrespective of carbon emissions, as will the £65 price for a third vehicle or any additional ones.

Permits will also be required for motorcycles (first permit £35, second permit £45, extra permits £65).

Once the new scheme has been adopted all future permits will be issued virtually, which the council says will benefit the environment and see a reduction in waste.

It claims the new pricing structure will “positively affect a reduction in consumption of fossil fuels in private vehicles by encouraging the uptake of fuel efficient/low emission vehicles and discouraging multiple car ownership.

“It is hoped more [people] will consider changing the mode of travel or adopt other sustainable modes of travel.”

Other changes to the permit scheme include:

• Refunds will be issued for part-used virtual permits.

• Introduction of virtual visitor permits which will be available as an alternative to physical ones.

◦ £30 per batch of 350 hours (allocated in one hour sessions) for schemes operating at all times (24hr/7days).

◦ £30 per batch of 200 hours (allocated in one hour sessions) for schemes not operating at all times.

◦ Virtual visitor permits will be required for motorcycles.

◦ Refunds will be issued for part-used batches of virtual visitor permits.

• New £10 administrative charge for essential visitor permits.

• Price for Exmouth (Langerwehe Way) business occupier permits and charity business permits increased to £35 for each permit.

• Supported living and school business permits introduced at charity business permit rate.

• Proof will be required for all applications.

• Exemption for car club vehicles from residents parking restrictions (including limited waiting and pay & display with exemptions for residents permit holders).

A report, due to be presented to a meeting of the cabinet later this month – rescheduled because of the Queen’s death – also provides information on how Devon’s system compares to neighbouring local authorities.

Devon’s ruling cabinet will consider and vote on the changes at a meeting on Monday September 26.