Uber Technologies will be able to continue to operate in London after a court granted the ride-sharing firm a 15-month probationary licence with conditions.

The company was refused a new licence to operate in London by transport regulator Transport for London on the basis that the company is not a “fit and proper” private car hire operator. Tfl’s concerns also included Uber's approach to carrying out background checks on drivers and reporting serious criminal offences.

Uber appealed its London ban and continued to operate in the capital but promised that it would make changes to the way it operates.

At the end of the two-day hearing, which began on Monday, Chief Magistrate Emma Arbuthnot said Uber was now considered "fit and proper". She also said Uber should pay all costs of the appeal with an amount of £425,000 having been agreed upon.

The mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, commented, “I believe everyone must play by the same rules, no matter how big or powerful they are. After years of operating poorly in London, Uber has now accepted that TfL’s action in refusing to renew their licence was totally justified. Today our stance has been vindicated by the court.”

“Uber has been put on probation – their 15-month licence has a clear set of conditions that TfL will thoroughly monitor and enforce,” Khan said. “As a result of us standing up for Londoners, Uber has been forced to overhaul the way it operates not just in London but across the world.”