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Parking income in Camden

Last updated . Figures refresh every night. How each figure is worked out.

In 2025–26 Camden took £73.5m in parking income and spent £35.0m, a surplus of £38.5m against £32.3m in 2024–25 (+19%), the 8th largest of 290 councils in England. Penalty charges brought in £41.3m. Figures are from the council's own return to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.

Figures for the 2025–26 financial year. Source: Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.

Key figures

  • £38.50mParking surplus up on a year earlier: +£6.22m (+19.3%) vs 2024–25 2025–26
  • £73.49mParking income up on a year earlier: +£23.64m (+47.4%) vs 2024–25 2025–26
  • £34.99mSpending on parking up on a year earlier: +£17.43m (+99.2%) vs 2024–25 2025–26
  • £41.33mPenalty charge income up on a year earlier: +£20.70m (+100.4%) vs 2024–25 2025–26
  • 8 of 290Rank in England, largest surplus first 2025–26

Source: Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.

How much has Camden made from parking each year?

Camden: parking income, spending and surplus, £ million
The numbers behind this chart
Camden: parking income, spending and surplus, £ million
YearIncomeSpendingSurplus
2017–18
Details for 2017–18
£36.37m£16.77m£19.6m
Spending
£16.77m
Surplus
£19.6m
2018–19
Details for 2018–19
£39.49m£13.52m£25.98m
Spending
£13.52m
Surplus
£25.98m
2019–20
Details for 2019–20
£44.05m£15.06m£28.99m
Spending
£15.06m
Surplus
£28.99m
2020–21
Details for 2020–21
£34.66m£13.68m£20.99m
Spending
£13.68m
Surplus
£20.99m
2021–22
Details for 2021–22
£47.6m£15.15m£32.45m
Spending
£15.15m
Surplus
£32.45m
2022–23
Details for 2022–23
£45.86m£15.75m£30.11m
Spending
£15.75m
Surplus
£30.11m
2023–24
Details for 2023–24
£44.95m£15.4m£29.55m
Spending
£15.4m
Surplus
£29.55m
2024–25
Details for 2024–25
£49.85m£17.57m£32.28m
Spending
£17.57m
Surplus
£32.28m
2025–26
Details for 2025–26
£73.49m£35m£38.5m
Spending
£35m
Surplus
£38.5m

Figures for the 2025–26 financial year. Source: Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.

Camden: on-street and car park accounts
YearOn-street incomeOn-street spendingCar park incomeCar park spendingPenalty income
2017–18
Details for 2017–18
£35.40m£15.90m£0.97m£0.86m£13.87m
On-street spending
£15.90m
Car park income
£0.97m
Car park spending
£0.86m
Penalty income
£13.87m
2018–19
Details for 2018–19
£38.79m£12.77m£0.70m£0.74m£13.65m
On-street spending
£12.77m
Car park income
£0.70m
Car park spending
£0.74m
Penalty income
£13.65m
2019–20
Details for 2019–20
£43.35m£14.32m£0.70m£0.74m£10.92m
On-street spending
£14.32m
Car park income
£0.70m
Car park spending
£0.74m
Penalty income
£10.92m
2020–21
Details for 2020–21
£34.02m£13.04m£0.65m£0.64m£7.55m
On-street spending
£13.04m
Car park income
£0.65m
Car park spending
£0.64m
Penalty income
£7.55m
2021–22
Details for 2021–22
£46.92m£14.60m£0.68m£0.55m£9.74m
On-street spending
£14.60m
Car park income
£0.68m
Car park spending
£0.55m
Penalty income
£9.74m
2022–23
Details for 2022–23
£45.17m£14.88m£0.69m£0.87m£17.10m
On-street spending
£14.88m
Car park income
£0.69m
Car park spending
£0.87m
Penalty income
£17.10m
2023–24
Details for 2023–24
£43.96m£14.61m£1.00m£0.79m£17.10m
On-street spending
£14.61m
Car park income
£1.00m
Car park spending
£0.79m
Penalty income
£17.10m
2024–25
Details for 2024–25
£49.35m£17.08m£0.50m£0.48m£20.62m
On-street spending
£17.08m
Car park income
£0.50m
Car park spending
£0.48m
Penalty income
£20.62m
2025–26
Details for 2025–26
£73.00m£34.52m£0.49m£0.47m£41.33m
On-street spending
£34.52m
Car park income
£0.49m
Car park spending
£0.47m
Penalty income
£41.33m

Figures for the 2025–26 financial year. Source: Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.

All figures are cash, in the council's own return. The most recent year is a first release and may be revised. Camden is recorded as: London.

What can Camden spend a surplus on?

On-street parking charges and all council parking penalty charges (England and Wales)

Ring-fenced by law a ring-fenced parking account. A surplus may only be spent on parking, public transport, highway and environmental improvements and similar purposes; a deficit is made good from the general fund.

Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, s55, as applied in England by SI 2022/71, regs 25 and 27

At the end of each financial year any deficit in the account shall be made good out of the general fund or, in Wales, council fund, and (subject to subsection (3) below) any surplus shall be applied for all or any of the purposes specified in subsection (4) below

Council car park (off-street) tariffs

Kept by the body that collects it the council's general fund. Section 55 covers on-street parking and enforcement income, not car park fees. Not verified

Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, s55(1), and DfT statutory guidance on civil parking enforcement

The income from on-street charging and any penalty charge payments received (whether for on-street or off-street enforcement) must only be used in accordance with section 55 (as amended) of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984.

Legal position as of 22 September 2026. Source: legislation.gov.uk. Checked by hand 22 September 2026.

How does Camden compare with other councils?

Camden among the England councils nearest it, parking surplus 2025–26

Ranked largest surplus first; a negative figure is a deficit. Every council is in the full tables.

Show as a table
Camden among the England councils nearest it, parking surplus 2025–26
NameSurplus
4. Ealing£52.03m
5. Hammersmith & Fulham£51.98m
6. Haringey£51.15m
7. Islington£43.08m
8. Camden (Camden)£38.50m
9. Wandsworth£33.38m
10. Hackney£31.51m
11. Newham£31.19m
12. Barking & Dagenham£28.64m

Figures for the 2025–26 financial year. Source: Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.

Every council's parking surplus, penalty charge levels and the national trend.

Sources for this page

SourcePublisherFigures as ofUpdatedLicence
Local authority revenue expenditure and financing: revenue outturn multi-year data set (RO2 parking)Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Governmentthe 2025–26 financial yearannualOpen Government Licence v3.0
legislation.gov.uk and official guidance, provision by provisionlegislation.gov.uk22 September 2026annualOpen Government Licence v3.0 (legislation.gov.uk)

Each source's figures are used under the licence shown. Our own words, analysis, charts and derived calculations are ours, under CC BY 4.0.

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