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Parking income in Welwyn Hatfield

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

In 2025–26 Welwyn Hatfield took £2.3m in parking income and spent £2.2m, a surplus of £0.1m against £0.4m in 2024–25 (−73%), the 239th largest of 290 councils in England. Penalty charges brought in £0.8m. 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

  • £0.10mParking surplus down on a year earlier: −£0.27m (−73.3%) vs 2024–25 2025–26
  • £2.30mParking income up on a year earlier: +£0.02m (+0.9%) vs 2024–25 2025–26
  • £2.20mSpending on parking up on a year earlier: +£0.29m (+14.9%) vs 2024–25 2025–26
  • £0.80mPenalty charge income up on a year earlier: +£0.00m (+0.5%) vs 2024–25 2025–26
  • 239 of 290Rank in England, largest surplus first 2025–26

Source: Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.

How much has Welwyn Hatfield made from parking each year?

Welwyn Hatfield: parking income, spending and surplus, £ million
The numbers behind this chart
Welwyn Hatfield: parking income, spending and surplus, £ million
YearIncomeSpendingSurplus
2017–18
Details for 2017–18
£1.77m£1.49m£0.28m
Spending
£1.49m
Surplus
£0.28m
2018–19
Details for 2018–19
£1.69m£1.54m£0.15m
Spending
£1.54m
Surplus
£0.15m
2019–20
Details for 2019–20
£2.05m£1.59m£0.46m
Spending
£1.59m
Surplus
£0.46m
2020–21
Details for 2020–21
£0.84m£1.43m£-0.59m
Spending
£1.43m
Surplus
£-0.59m
2021–22
Details for 2021–22
£1.52m£1.71m£-0.18m
Spending
£1.71m
Surplus
£-0.18m
2022–23
Details for 2022–23
£1.53m£1.35m£0.18m
Spending
£1.35m
Surplus
£0.18m
2023–24
Details for 2023–24
£2.04m£2m£0.04m
Spending
£2m
Surplus
£0.04m
2024–25
Details for 2024–25
£2.28m£1.92m£0.36m
Spending
£1.92m
Surplus
£0.36m
2025–26
Details for 2025–26
£2.3m£2.2m£0.1m
Spending
£2.2m
Surplus
£0.1m

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

Welwyn Hatfield: on-street and car park accounts
YearOn-street incomeOn-street spendingCar park incomeCar park spendingPenalty income
2017–18
Details for 2017–18
£0.40m£0.55m£1.38m£0.94m£0.34m
On-street spending
£0.55m
Car park income
£1.38m
Car park spending
£0.94m
Penalty income
£0.34m
2018–19
Details for 2018–19
£0.36m£0.52m£1.32m£1.02m£0.31m
On-street spending
£0.52m
Car park income
£1.32m
Car park spending
£1.02m
Penalty income
£0.31m
2019–20
Details for 2019–20
£0.70m£0.51m£1.35m£1.09m£0.52m
On-street spending
£0.51m
Car park income
£1.35m
Car park spending
£1.09m
Penalty income
£0.52m
2020–21
Details for 2020–21
£0.47m£0.58m£0.37m£0.84m£0.28m
On-street spending
£0.58m
Car park income
£0.37m
Car park spending
£0.84m
Penalty income
£0.28m
2021–22
Details for 2021–22
£0.84m£0.63m£0.69m£1.07m£0.51m
On-street spending
£0.63m
Car park income
£0.69m
Car park spending
£1.07m
Penalty income
£0.51m
2022–23
Details for 2022–23
£1.11m£0.59m£0.42m£0.76m£0.72m
On-street spending
£0.59m
Car park income
£0.42m
Car park spending
£0.76m
Penalty income
£0.72m
2023–24
Details for 2023–24
£1.39m£0.75m£0.65m£1.24m£0.78m
On-street spending
£0.75m
Car park income
£0.65m
Car park spending
£1.24m
Penalty income
£0.78m
2024–25
Details for 2024–25
£1.42m£0.91m£0.86m£1.01m£0.80m
On-street spending
£0.91m
Car park income
£0.86m
Car park spending
£1.01m
Penalty income
£0.80m
2025–26
Details for 2025–26
£1.25m£1.04m£1.05m£1.16m£0.80m
On-street spending
£1.04m
Car park income
£1.05m
Car park spending
£1.16m
Penalty income
£0.80m

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. Welwyn Hatfield is recorded as: Shire District.

What can Welwyn Hatfield 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 Welwyn Hatfield compare with other councils?

Welwyn Hatfield 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
Welwyn Hatfield among the England councils nearest it, parking surplus 2025–26
NameSurplus
235. Mid Suffolk£0.14m
236. South Norfolk£0.12m
237. Hertsmere£0.11m
238. Newcastle-under-Lyme£0.11m
239. Welwyn Hatfield (Welwyn Hatfield)£0.10m
240. West Lindsey£0.10m
241. Norfolk CC£0.09m
242. Watford£0.08m
243. Exmoor National Park Authority£0.06m

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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