Where your money goes
In this section: Your area

Parking income in Test Valley

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

In 2025–26 Test Valley took £2.1m in parking income and spent £2.0m, a surplus of £0.1m against £0.6m in 2024–25 (−75%), the 234th 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

  • £0.15mParking surplus down on a year earlier: −£0.45m (−75.1%) vs 2024–25 2025–26
  • £2.11mParking income up on a year earlier: +£0.16m (+8.0%) vs 2024–25 2025–26
  • £1.97mSpending on parking up on a year earlier: +£0.60m (+44.3%) vs 2024–25 2025–26
  • £0.00mPenalty charge income unchanged on a year earlier: no change vs 2024–25 2025–26
  • 234 of 290Rank in England, largest surplus first 2025–26

Source: Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.

How much has Test Valley made from parking each year?

Test Valley: parking income, spending and surplus, £ million
The numbers behind this chart
Test Valley: parking income, spending and surplus, £ million
YearIncomeSpendingSurplus
2017–18
Details for 2017–18
£2.62m£1.38m£1.24m
Spending
£1.38m
Surplus
£1.24m
2018–19
Details for 2018–19
£2.47m£1.43m£1.05m
Spending
£1.43m
Surplus
£1.05m
2019–20
Details for 2019–20
£2.52m£1.44m£1.08m
Spending
£1.44m
Surplus
£1.08m
2020–21
Details for 2020–21
£0.67m£1.19m£-0.52m
Spending
£1.19m
Surplus
£-0.52m
2021–22
Details for 2021–22
£1.76m£1.18m£0.58m
Spending
£1.18m
Surplus
£0.58m
2022–23
Details for 2022–23
£1.88m£1.46m£0.41m
Spending
£1.46m
Surplus
£0.41m
2023–24
Details for 2023–24
£1.9m£1.2m£0.7m
Spending
£1.2m
Surplus
£0.7m
2024–25
Details for 2024–25
£1.96m£1.36m£0.6m
Spending
£1.36m
Surplus
£0.6m
2025–26
Details for 2025–26
£2.11m£1.97m£0.15m
Spending
£1.97m
Surplus
£0.15m

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

Test Valley: on-street and car park accounts
YearOn-street incomeOn-street spendingCar park incomeCar park spendingPenalty income
2017–18
Details for 2017–18
£0.15m£0.16m£2.47m£1.23m£0.11m
On-street spending
£0.16m
Car park income
£2.47m
Car park spending
£1.23m
Penalty income
£0.11m
2018–19
Details for 2018–19
£0.14m£0.18m£2.33m£1.24m£0.10m
On-street spending
£0.18m
Car park income
£2.33m
Car park spending
£1.24m
Penalty income
£0.10m
2019–20
Details for 2019–20
£0.14m£0.14m£2.38m£1.30m£0.10m
On-street spending
£0.14m
Car park income
£2.38m
Car park spending
£1.30m
Penalty income
£0.10m
2020–21
Details for 2020–21
£0.00m£0.00m£0.67m£1.19m£0.00m
On-street spending
£0.00m
Car park income
£0.67m
Car park spending
£1.19m
Penalty income
£0.00m
2021–22
Details for 2021–22
£0.00m£0.00m£1.76m£1.18m£0.00m
On-street spending
£0.00m
Car park income
£1.76m
Car park spending
£1.18m
Penalty income
£0.00m
2022–23
Details for 2022–23
£0.00m£0.00m£1.88m£1.46m£0.00m
On-street spending
£0.00m
Car park income
£1.88m
Car park spending
£1.46m
Penalty income
£0.00m
2023–24
Details for 2023–24
£0.00m£0.00m£1.90m£1.20m£0.00m
On-street spending
£0.00m
Car park income
£1.90m
Car park spending
£1.20m
Penalty income
£0.00m
2024–25
Details for 2024–25
£0.00m£0.00m£1.96m£1.36m£0.00m
On-street spending
£0.00m
Car park income
£1.96m
Car park spending
£1.36m
Penalty income
£0.00m
2025–26
Details for 2025–26
£0.00m£0.00m£2.11m£1.97m£0.00m
On-street spending
£0.00m
Car park income
£2.11m
Car park spending
£1.97m
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. Test Valley is recorded as: Shire District.

What can Test Valley 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 Test Valley compare with other councils?

Test Valley 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
Test Valley among the England councils nearest it, parking surplus 2025–26
NameSurplus
230. St Helens MBC£0.18m
231. Harlow£0.18m
232. Wyre£0.18m
233. Melton£0.15m
234. Test Valley (Test Valley)£0.15m
235. Mid Suffolk£0.14m
236. South Norfolk£0.12m
237. Hertsmere£0.11m
238. Newcastle-under-Lyme£0.11m

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.

Sections