Ellie Ames 13 October 2023

Councils' parking revenue approaches £1bn

Councils parking revenue approaches £1bn image
Image: stoatphoto / Shutterstock.com

The income councils raked in from parking surged to almost £1bn in the last financial year.

Local authorities in England generated £962.3m from parking charges in 2022-23, AA analysis of new Government figures has revealed, up from £317.6m the previous year.

Last year’s total income, from both on-street and car park charges, surpasses the £936.1m brought in before the coronavirus pandemic in 2018-19.

However, income from car parks dropped from £363.6m to £289.2m in this period.

Last year, London councils alone generated £551.3m in profits from street parking, according to the statistics from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.

The figures show that councils have turned parking ‘into a huge cash cow’, according to AA head of roads policy Jack Cousens.

Mr Cousens added: ‘However, the nearly £75m or 20% crash in the surplus from car parks must be particularly worrying for cash-strapped councils.’

‘While the covid fallout, such as people working from home, and the economic downturn are factors in the decline, hikes in parking charges by councils have contributed and helped to drive more shoppers online.

‘In effect, many local authorities are killing the goose that lays the golden egg.’

A Local Government Association spokesperson said: ‘Income raised through parking charges is spent on running parking services.

‘Any surplus is spent on essential transport projects, including fixing the £14bn road repairs backlog, reducing congestion, tackling poor air quality and supporting local bus services.’

SIGN UP
For your free daily news bulletin
Highways jobs

Cleaner and Caretaker

North Yorkshire Council
£12.65 - £13.47 per hour
Are you looking for a cleaning role that is a little different? Ripon, North Yorkshire
Recuriter: North Yorkshire Council

Cleaner and Caretaker

North Yorkshire Council
£12.65 - £13.47 per hour
Are you looking for a cleaning role that is a little different? Bradley, West Yorkshire
Recuriter: North Yorkshire Council

Specialist Customer Service Officer

Oxfordshire County Council
£31,537 - £34,434 per annum
Are you passionate about helping others and making a real impact in your community? We’re looking for Specialist Customer Service Officers to join our dynamic Contact Centre team, the first point of contact for a wide range of essential services acros Oxfordshire County Council , County Hall, Oxford
Recuriter: Oxfordshire County Council

Cook

North Yorkshire Council
£13.47 - £14.13 per hour
Are you keen to join a friendly team who are committed to making a real impact in their local community? Lancaster, Lancashire
Recuriter: North Yorkshire Council

Catering Assistant

North Yorkshire Council
£12.65 - £12.65 per hour
We have an opportunity to join our award-winning Facilities Management catering team. North Yorkshire
Recuriter: North Yorkshire Council
Linkedin Banner