Blue badges

The Blue Badge scheme provides parking concessions to benefit people who have such difficulty in walking that they would be physically incapable of visiting shops, public buildings or other places unless able to park directly outside or very close to their destination.

Blue Badges can only be issued to people who meet the eligibility criteria, not to relative or carers. They can be used in any car the badge holder is driving or is a passenger in.

It is an offence under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 to display a badge when a vehicle is not being used to transport the badge holder.

All blue badge holders must be:

Ordinarily resident in Tower Hamlets and over the age of two.

Automatic eligibility

You are automatically eligible for a blue badge if you:

• Are registered blind – confirmed by BD8 form or LBTH registration letter; or
• Receive the higher rate mobility component of disability living allowance – confirmed by a current award letter or copies of your payment book (front cover, showing name and address and the page showing the breakdown of your payments); or
• Use a disabled person's car supplied by a government department, or receive a grant towards your own vehicle under section 5(2)(a) of the NHS Act 1977, or section 46 of the NHS (Scotland) Act 1978 – confirmed by a current award letter; or
• Receive a war pensioner's mobility supplement – confirmed by a current award letter

Assessed eligibility

You are also eligible for an blue badge if an assessment shows that either of the following applies to you:

• You drive motor vehicles regularly and have a severe disability in both upper limbs and a unable to turn by hand the steering wheel of a motor vehicle even if it is fitted with a turning knob; or
• You have a permanent and substantial disability which causes inability to walk or very considerable difficulty in walking (determined under Tower Hamlets criteria),

If you are applying for an blue badge because of inability to walk or difficulty in walking as in b) above, the condition must affect you for the majority of the time.

Eligibility is based exclusively on assessment of difficulties with walking, and blue badges can only be issued to people whose walking is physically impaired.

Conditions such as incontinence or mental health problems cannot be taken into account. Nor can problems with carrying, e.g. arthritic hands.

Tower Hamlets Council makes the final decision on eligibility for the blue badge – this cannot be decided by a GP.

If you are a resident of this borough and feel you may qualify for a blue badge, please complete the Blue Badge application below.

• Mobility services application form (pdf 42k)
  

One in three Blue Badges are stolen

If your Blue Badge has been lost/stolen you must complete the form and return it to:

Mobility Team
Mulberry Place (AH)
PO Box 55739
5 Clove Crescent
London E14 1BY

• Mobility services application form (pdf 42k)

Stop it happening to you

Sign up for the Tower Hamlets Disabled Badge Permit Scheme.

All you need to do is:

• Register your vehicle details with the council.
• A special parking permit will be posted to you. It is only valid in your car because it displays your vehicle registration, badge expiry date and serial number.
• When parking, display your new permit and clock – which are worthless to thieves – instead of your blue badge.

Remember to:

• Keep using your blue badge until you receive your new permit
• Use your blue badge if you are parking outside the borough (although the council is working in partnership with Met Police and other boroughs to expand the scheme).
• Continue to park in accordance with disabled parking laws.

Download registration form to register your vehicle details with the council:

• Mobility services application form (pdf 42k)

Complete the application form and return it to:

Mobility Team
Mulberry Place (AH)
PO Box 55739
5 Clove Crescent
London E14 1BY

Contact mobility support for more information

Pid No: 279