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Parking income in Stevenage

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

In 2025–26 Stevenage took £6.2m in parking income and spent £2.4m, a surplus of £3.8m against £2.9m in 2024–25 (+31%), the 79th 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

  • £3.78mParking surplus up on a year earlier: +£0.90m (+31.2%) vs 2024–25 2025–26
  • £6.20mParking income up on a year earlier: +£0.45m (+7.7%) vs 2024–25 2025–26
  • £2.42mSpending on parking down on a year earlier: −£0.45m (−15.8%) vs 2024–25 2025–26
  • £0.00mPenalty charge income unchanged on a year earlier: no change vs 2024–25 2025–26
  • 79 of 290Rank in England, largest surplus first 2025–26

Source: Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.

How much has Stevenage made from parking each year?

Stevenage: parking income, spending and surplus, £ million
The numbers behind this chart
Stevenage: parking income, spending and surplus, £ million
YearIncomeSpendingSurplus
2017–18
Details for 2017–18
£4.72m£2.23m£2.49m
Spending
£2.23m
Surplus
£2.49m
2018–19
Details for 2018–19
£4.95m£2.44m£2.51m
Spending
£2.44m
Surplus
£2.51m
2019–20
Details for 2019–20
£4.95m£2.64m£2.31m
Spending
£2.64m
Surplus
£2.31m
2020–21
Details for 2020–21
£1.86m£2.35m£-0.49m
Spending
£2.35m
Surplus
£-0.49m
2021–22
Details for 2021–22
£3.55m£2.35m£1.2m
Spending
£2.35m
Surplus
£1.2m
2022–23
Details for 2022–23
£4.27m£2.36m£1.91m
Spending
£2.36m
Surplus
£1.91m
2023–24
Details for 2023–24
£4.94m£2.81m£2.13m
Spending
£2.81m
Surplus
£2.13m
2024–25
Details for 2024–25
£5.75m£2.87m£2.88m
Spending
£2.87m
Surplus
£2.88m
2025–26
Details for 2025–26
£6.2m£2.42m£3.78m
Spending
£2.42m
Surplus
£3.78m

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

Stevenage: on-street and car park accounts
YearOn-street incomeOn-street spendingCar park incomeCar park spendingPenalty income
2017–18
Details for 2017–18
£0.69m£0.59m£4.02m£1.64m£0.32m
On-street spending
£0.59m
Car park income
£4.02m
Car park spending
£1.64m
Penalty income
£0.32m
2018–19
Details for 2018–19
£0.73m£0.63m£4.22m£1.81m£0.30m
On-street spending
£0.63m
Car park income
£4.22m
Car park spending
£1.81m
Penalty income
£0.30m
2019–20
Details for 2019–20
£0.81m£0.65m£4.14m£1.99m£0.35m
On-street spending
£0.65m
Car park income
£4.14m
Car park spending
£1.99m
Penalty income
£0.35m
2020–21
Details for 2020–21
£0.36m£0.59m£1.50m£1.76m£0.23m
On-street spending
£0.59m
Car park income
£1.50m
Car park spending
£1.76m
Penalty income
£0.23m
2021–22
Details for 2021–22
£0.69m£0.68m£2.86m£1.67m£0.32m
On-street spending
£0.68m
Car park income
£2.86m
Car park spending
£1.67m
Penalty income
£0.32m
2022–23
Details for 2022–23
£0.95m£0.76m£3.32m£1.60m£0.00m
On-street spending
£0.76m
Car park income
£3.32m
Car park spending
£1.60m
Penalty income
£0.00m
2023–24
Details for 2023–24
£1.02m£0.76m£3.92m£2.05m£0.00m
On-street spending
£0.76m
Car park income
£3.92m
Car park spending
£2.05m
Penalty income
£0.00m
2024–25
Details for 2024–25
£1.23m£0.86m£4.52m£2.01m£0.00m
On-street spending
£0.86m
Car park income
£4.52m
Car park spending
£2.01m
Penalty income
£0.00m
2025–26
Details for 2025–26
£1.28m£0.90m£4.92m£1.52m£0.00m
On-street spending
£0.90m
Car park income
£4.92m
Car park spending
£1.52m
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. Stevenage is recorded as: Shire District.

What can Stevenage 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 Stevenage compare with other councils?

Stevenage 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
Stevenage among the England councils nearest it, parking surplus 2025–26
NameSurplus
75. Devon CC£4.19m
76. King's Lynn & West Norfolk£4.15m
77. Horsham£3.82m
78. Shropshire UA£3.80m
79. Stevenage (Stevenage)£3.78m
80. Cheltenham£3.75m
81. Bradford£3.66m
82. Cambridgeshire CC£3.61m
83. Cheshire West and Chester UA£3.56m

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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