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Parking income in South Hams

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

In 2025–26 South Hams took £5.1m in parking income and spent £2.3m, a surplus of £2.8m against £1.5m in 2024–25 (+83%), the 95th largest of 290 councils in England. 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

  • £2.78mParking surplus up on a year earlier: +£1.26m (+82.7%) vs 2024–25 2025–26
  • £5.09mParking income up on a year earlier: +£1.26m (+32.9%) vs 2024–25 2025–26
  • £2.31mSpending on parking up on a year earlier: +£0.00m (+0.1%) vs 2024–25 2025–26
  • £0.00mPenalty charge income unchanged on a year earlier: no change vs 2024–25 2025–26
  • 95 of 290Rank in England, largest surplus first 2025–26

Source: Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.

How much has South Hams made from parking each year?

South Hams: parking income, spending and surplus, £ million
The numbers behind this chart
South Hams: parking income, spending and surplus, £ million
YearIncomeSpendingSurplus
2017–18
Details for 2017–18
£3.03m£1.54m£1.49m
Spending
£1.54m
Surplus
£1.49m
2018–19
Details for 2018–19
£3.24m£1.64m£1.6m
Spending
£1.64m
Surplus
£1.6m
2019–20
Details for 2019–20
£3.28m£1.83m£1.45m
Spending
£1.83m
Surplus
£1.45m
2020–21
Details for 2020–21
£2.37m£1.62m£0.76m
Spending
£1.62m
Surplus
£0.76m
2021–22
Details for 2021–22
£3.73m£1.9m£1.83m
Spending
£1.9m
Surplus
£1.83m
2022–23
Details for 2022–23
£3.82m£2.08m£1.74m
Spending
£2.08m
Surplus
£1.74m
2023–24
Details for 2023–24
£4.01m£2.33m£1.68m
Spending
£2.33m
Surplus
£1.68m
2024–25
Details for 2024–25
£3.83m£2.31m£1.52m
Spending
£2.31m
Surplus
£1.52m
2025–26
Details for 2025–26
£5.09m£2.31m£2.78m
Spending
£2.31m
Surplus
£2.78m

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

South Hams: on-street and car park accounts
YearOn-street incomeOn-street spendingCar park incomeCar park spendingPenalty income
2017–18
Details for 2017–18
£0.00m£0.00m£3.03m£1.54m£0.00m
On-street spending
£0.00m
Car park income
£3.03m
Car park spending
£1.54m
Penalty income
£0.00m
2018–19
Details for 2018–19
£0.00m£0.00m£3.24m£1.64m£0.00m
On-street spending
£0.00m
Car park income
£3.24m
Car park spending
£1.64m
Penalty income
£0.00m
2019–20
Details for 2019–20
£0.00m£0.00m£3.28m£1.83m£0.00m
On-street spending
£0.00m
Car park income
£3.28m
Car park spending
£1.83m
Penalty income
£0.00m
2020–21
Details for 2020–21
£0.00m£0.00m£2.37m£1.61m£0.00m
On-street spending
£0.00m
Car park income
£2.37m
Car park spending
£1.61m
Penalty income
£0.00m
2021–22
Details for 2021–22
£0.00m£0.00m£3.73m£1.90m£0.00m
On-street spending
£0.00m
Car park income
£3.73m
Car park spending
£1.90m
Penalty income
£0.00m
2022–23
Details for 2022–23
£0.00m£0.00m£3.82m£2.08m£0.00m
On-street spending
£0.00m
Car park income
£3.82m
Car park spending
£2.08m
Penalty income
£0.00m
2023–24
Details for 2023–24
£0.00m£0.00m£4.01m£2.33m£0.00m
On-street spending
£0.00m
Car park income
£4.01m
Car park spending
£2.33m
Penalty income
£0.00m
2024–25
Details for 2024–25
£0.00m£0.00m£3.83m£2.31m£0.00m
On-street spending
£0.00m
Car park income
£3.83m
Car park spending
£2.31m
Penalty income
£0.00m
2025–26
Details for 2025–26
£0.00m£0.00m£5.09m£2.31m£0.00m
On-street spending
£0.00m
Car park income
£5.09m
Car park spending
£2.31m
Penalty income
£0.00m

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. South Hams is recorded as: Shire District.

What can South Hams 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 South Hams compare with other councils?

South Hams 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
South Hams among the England councils nearest it, parking surplus 2025–26
NameSurplus
91. Cheshire East UA£2.91m
92. Calderdale£2.89m
93. Buckinghamshire UA£2.87m
94. East Sussex CC£2.83m
95. South Hams (South Hams)£2.78m
96. Worcester£2.65m
97. Epsom & Ewell£2.64m
98. West Northamptonshire£2.59m
99. Elmbridge£2.52m

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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