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Parking income in West Suffolk

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

In 2025–26 West Suffolk took £8.7m in parking income and spent £3.7m, a surplus of £4.9m against £4.5m in 2024–25 (+10%), the 63rd 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

  • £4.95mParking surplus up on a year earlier: +£0.46m (+10.3%) vs 2024–25 2025–26
  • £8.67mParking income up on a year earlier: +£0.52m (+6.4%) vs 2024–25 2025–26
  • £3.73mSpending on parking up on a year earlier: +£0.06m (+1.6%) vs 2024–25 2025–26
  • £0.00mPenalty charge income unchanged on a year earlier: no change vs 2024–25 2025–26
  • 63 of 290Rank in England, largest surplus first 2025–26

Source: Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.

How much has West Suffolk made from parking each year?

West Suffolk: parking income, spending and surplus, £ million
The numbers behind this chart
West Suffolk: parking income, spending and surplus, £ million
YearIncomeSpendingSurplus
2019–20
Details for 2019–20
£6.21m£3.68m£2.53m
Spending
£3.68m
Surplus
£2.53m
2020–21
Details for 2020–21
£3.84m£3.7m£0.14m
Spending
£3.7m
Surplus
£0.14m
2021–22
Details for 2021–22
£6.64m£3.41m£3.23m
Spending
£3.41m
Surplus
£3.23m
2022–23
Details for 2022–23
£7.36m£4.26m£3.1m
Spending
£4.26m
Surplus
£3.1m
2023–24
Details for 2023–24
£7.82m£3.4m£4.42m
Spending
£3.4m
Surplus
£4.42m
2024–25
Details for 2024–25
£8.15m£3.67m£4.49m
Spending
£3.67m
Surplus
£4.49m
2025–26
Details for 2025–26
£8.67m£3.73m£4.95m
Spending
£3.73m
Surplus
£4.95m

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

West Suffolk: on-street and car park accounts
YearOn-street incomeOn-street spendingCar park incomeCar park spendingPenalty income
2019–20
Details for 2019–20
£0.76m£0.78m£5.44m£2.90m£0.00m
On-street spending
£0.78m
Car park income
£5.44m
Car park spending
£2.90m
Penalty income
£0.00m
2020–21
Details for 2020–21
£0.38m£0.05m£3.47m£3.64m£0.00m
On-street spending
£0.05m
Car park income
£3.47m
Car park spending
£3.64m
Penalty income
£0.00m
2021–22
Details for 2021–22
£0.60m£0.10m£6.04m£3.31m£0.60m
On-street spending
£0.10m
Car park income
£6.04m
Car park spending
£3.31m
Penalty income
£0.60m
2022–23
Details for 2022–23
£0.62m£0.16m£6.73m£4.10m£0.00m
On-street spending
£0.16m
Car park income
£6.73m
Car park spending
£4.10m
Penalty income
£0.00m
2023–24
Details for 2023–24
£0.64m£0.13m£7.18m£3.27m£0.00m
On-street spending
£0.13m
Car park income
£7.18m
Car park spending
£3.27m
Penalty income
£0.00m
2024–25
Details for 2024–25
£0.68m£0.10m£7.47m£3.57m£0.00m
On-street spending
£0.10m
Car park income
£7.47m
Car park spending
£3.57m
Penalty income
£0.00m
2025–26
Details for 2025–26
£0.69m£0.14m£7.98m£3.58m£0.00m
On-street spending
£0.14m
Car park income
£7.98m
Car park spending
£3.58m
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. West Suffolk is recorded as: Shire District.

What can West Suffolk 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 West Suffolk compare with other councils?

West Suffolk 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
West Suffolk among the England councils nearest it, parking surplus 2025–26
NameSurplus
59. Harrow£5.10m
60. Plymouth UA£5.06m
61. Sheffield£4.99m
62. Lincoln City£4.97m
63. West Suffolk (West Suffolk)£4.95m
64. Leicester City UA£4.91m
65. Greater London Authority£4.89m
66. Herefordshire UA£4.81m
67. Reading UA£4.79m

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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