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Parking income in Sutton

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

In 2025–26 Sutton took £8.5m in parking income and spent £6.9m, a surplus of £1.6m against £1.6m in 2024–25 (+1%), the 126th 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

  • £1.62mParking surplus up on a year earlier: +£0.01m (+0.9%) vs 2024–25 2025–26
  • £8.51mParking income up on a year earlier: +£0.80m (+10.3%) vs 2024–25 2025–26
  • £6.89mSpending on parking up on a year earlier: +£0.78m (+12.8%) vs 2024–25 2025–26
  • £0.00mPenalty charge income down on a year earlier: −£3.81m (−100.0%) vs 2024–25 2025–26
  • 126 of 290Rank in England, largest surplus first 2025–26

Source: Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.

How much has Sutton made from parking each year?

Sutton: parking income, spending and surplus, £ million
The numbers behind this chart
Sutton: parking income, spending and surplus, £ million
YearIncomeSpendingSurplus
2017–18
Details for 2017–18
£2.34m£0.85m£1.49m
Spending
£0.85m
Surplus
£1.49m
2018–19
Details for 2018–19
£2.29m£0.97m£1.31m
Spending
£0.97m
Surplus
£1.31m
2019–20
Details for 2019–20
£2.21m£0.99m£1.22m
Spending
£0.99m
Surplus
£1.22m
2020–21
Details for 2020–21
£1.08m£0.98m£0.09m
Spending
£0.98m
Surplus
£0.09m
2021–22
Details for 2021–22
£5.85m£5.04m£0.81m
Spending
£5.04m
Surplus
£0.81m
2022–23
Details for 2022–23
£6.92m£6.31m£0.61m
Spending
£6.31m
Surplus
£0.61m
2023–24
Details for 2023–24
£6.66m£5.38m£1.29m
Spending
£5.38m
Surplus
£1.29m
2024–25
Details for 2024–25
£7.71m£6.11m£1.6m
Spending
£6.11m
Surplus
£1.6m
2025–26
Details for 2025–26
£8.51m£6.89m£1.62m
Spending
£6.89m
Surplus
£1.62m

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

Sutton: 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£2.34m£0.85m£0.00m
On-street spending
£0.00m
Car park income
£2.34m
Car park spending
£0.85m
Penalty income
£0.00m
2018–19
Details for 2018–19
£0.00m£0.00m£2.29m£0.97m£0.00m
On-street spending
£0.00m
Car park income
£2.29m
Car park spending
£0.97m
Penalty income
£0.00m
2019–20
Details for 2019–20
£0.00m£0.00m£2.21m£0.99m£0.00m
On-street spending
£0.00m
Car park income
£2.21m
Car park spending
£0.99m
Penalty income
£0.00m
2020–21
Details for 2020–21
£0.00m£0.00m£1.08m£0.98m£0.00m
On-street spending
£0.00m
Car park income
£1.08m
Car park spending
£0.98m
Penalty income
£0.00m
2021–22
Details for 2021–22
£3.94m£4.01m£1.91m£1.02m£2.84m
On-street spending
£4.01m
Car park income
£1.91m
Car park spending
£1.02m
Penalty income
£2.84m
2022–23
Details for 2022–23
£4.77m£5.13m£2.15m£1.18m£3.50m
On-street spending
£5.13m
Car park income
£2.15m
Car park spending
£1.18m
Penalty income
£3.50m
2023–24
Details for 2023–24
£4.35m£4.37m£2.32m£1.01m£3.03m
On-street spending
£4.37m
Car park income
£2.32m
Car park spending
£1.01m
Penalty income
£3.03m
2024–25
Details for 2024–25
£5.03m£5.05m£2.68m£1.06m£3.81m
On-street spending
£5.05m
Car park income
£2.68m
Car park spending
£1.06m
Penalty income
£3.81m
2025–26
Details for 2025–26
£5.79m£5.82m£2.71m£1.07m£0.00m
On-street spending
£5.82m
Car park income
£2.71m
Car park spending
£1.07m
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. Sutton is recorded as: London.

What can Sutton 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 Sutton compare with other councils?

Sutton 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
Sutton among the England councils nearest it, parking surplus 2025–26
NameSurplus
122. Ipswich£1.67m
123. East Hampshire£1.66m
124. Dover£1.65m
125. Maldon DC£1.62m
126. Sutton (Sutton)£1.62m
127. Maidstone£1.62m
128. Darlington UA£1.61m
129. Bracknell Forest UA£1.54m
130. Havant£1.54m

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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