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Parking income in Richmond upon Thames

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

In 2025–26 Richmond upon Thames took £22.8m in parking income and spent £7.2m, a surplus of £15.6m against £11.0m in 2024–25 (+42%), the 24th largest of 290 councils in England. Penalty charges brought in £6.7m. 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

  • £15.62mParking surplus up on a year earlier: +£4.61m (+41.9%) vs 2024–25 2025–26
  • £22.79mParking income up on a year earlier: +£2.59m (+12.8%) vs 2024–25 2025–26
  • £7.17mSpending on parking down on a year earlier: −£2.02m (−22.0%) vs 2024–25 2025–26
  • £6.69mPenalty charge income up on a year earlier: +£0.72m (+12.0%) vs 2024–25 2025–26
  • 24 of 290Rank in England, largest surplus first 2025–26

Source: Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.

How much has Richmond upon Thames made from parking each year?

Richmond upon Thames: parking income, spending and surplus, £ million
The numbers behind this chart
Richmond upon Thames: parking income, spending and surplus, £ million
YearIncomeSpendingSurplus
2017–18
Details for 2017–18
£15.52m£5.7m£9.82m
Spending
£5.7m
Surplus
£9.82m
2018–19
Details for 2018–19
£15.57m£6.97m£8.6m
Spending
£6.97m
Surplus
£8.6m
2019–20
Details for 2019–20
£16.06m£7.54m£8.52m
Spending
£7.54m
Surplus
£8.52m
2020–21
Details for 2020–21
£12.47m£7.73m£4.74m
Spending
£7.73m
Surplus
£4.74m
2021–22
Details for 2021–22
£16.73m£8.79m£7.94m
Spending
£8.79m
Surplus
£7.94m
2022–23
Details for 2022–23
£17.74m£7.82m£9.92m
Spending
£7.82m
Surplus
£9.92m
2023–24
Details for 2023–24
£18.98m£7.9m£11.08m
Spending
£7.9m
Surplus
£11.08m
2024–25
Details for 2024–25
£20.2m£9.19m£11.01m
Spending
£9.19m
Surplus
£11.01m
2025–26
Details for 2025–26
£22.79m£7.17m£15.62m
Spending
£7.17m
Surplus
£15.62m

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

Richmond upon Thames: on-street and car park accounts
YearOn-street incomeOn-street spendingCar park incomeCar park spendingPenalty income
2017–18
Details for 2017–18
£15.45m£5.70m£0.07m£0.00m£5.51m
On-street spending
£5.70m
Car park income
£0.07m
Car park spending
£0.00m
Penalty income
£5.51m
2018–19
Details for 2018–19
£15.57m£6.97m£0.00m£0.00m£5.80m
On-street spending
£6.97m
Car park income
£0.00m
Car park spending
£0.00m
Penalty income
£5.80m
2019–20
Details for 2019–20
£16.06m£7.54m£0.00m£0.00m£6.00m
On-street spending
£7.54m
Car park income
£0.00m
Car park spending
£0.00m
Penalty income
£6.00m
2020–21
Details for 2020–21
£12.47m£7.73m£0.00m£0.00m£4.56m
On-street spending
£7.73m
Car park income
£0.00m
Car park spending
£0.00m
Penalty income
£4.56m
2021–22
Details for 2021–22
£16.73m£8.79m£0.00m£0.00m£6.14m
On-street spending
£8.79m
Car park income
£0.00m
Car park spending
£0.00m
Penalty income
£6.14m
2022–23
Details for 2022–23
£17.74m£7.82m£0.00m£0.00m£6.89m
On-street spending
£7.82m
Car park income
£0.00m
Car park spending
£0.00m
Penalty income
£6.89m
2023–24
Details for 2023–24
£14.50m£5.54m£4.49m£2.36m£5.61m
On-street spending
£5.54m
Car park income
£4.49m
Car park spending
£2.36m
Penalty income
£5.61m
2024–25
Details for 2024–25
£15.44m£6.52m£4.75m£2.67m£5.98m
On-street spending
£6.52m
Car park income
£4.75m
Car park spending
£2.67m
Penalty income
£5.98m
2025–26
Details for 2025–26
£17.54m£4.49m£5.25m£2.68m£6.69m
On-street spending
£4.49m
Car park income
£5.25m
Car park spending
£2.68m
Penalty income
£6.69m

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. Richmond upon Thames is recorded as: London.

What can Richmond upon Thames 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 Richmond upon Thames compare with other councils?

Richmond upon Thames 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
Richmond upon Thames among the England councils nearest it, parking surplus 2025–26
NameSurplus
20. Waltham Forest£17.26m
21. Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole UA£17.16m
22. Manchester£17.03m
23. Havering£16.18m
24. Richmond upon Thames (Richmond upon Thames)£15.62m
25. North Yorkshire£15.12m
26. Croydon£14.94m
27. Barnet£14.93m
28. Merton£14.55m

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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