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Parking income in Wiltshire UA

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

In 2025–26 Wiltshire UA took £10.3m in parking income and spent £4.9m, a surplus of £5.4m against £4.8m in 2024–25 (+12%), the 56th largest of 290 councils in England. Penalty charges brought in £2.7m. 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

  • £5.37mParking surplus up on a year earlier: +£0.58m (+12.1%) vs 2024–25 2025–26
  • £10.26mParking income up on a year earlier: +£0.76m (+8.0%) vs 2024–25 2025–26
  • £4.89mSpending on parking up on a year earlier: +£0.18m (+3.8%) vs 2024–25 2025–26
  • £2.69mPenalty charge income up on a year earlier: +£1.52m (+128.9%) vs 2024–25 2025–26
  • 56 of 290Rank in England, largest surplus first 2025–26

Source: Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.

How much has Wiltshire UA made from parking each year?

Wiltshire UA: parking income, spending and surplus, £ million
The numbers behind this chart
Wiltshire UA: parking income, spending and surplus, £ million
YearIncomeSpendingSurplus
2017–18
Details for 2017–18
£7.6m£3.22m£4.39m
Spending
£3.22m
Surplus
£4.39m
2018–19
Details for 2018–19
£8.24m£3.73m£4.51m
Spending
£3.73m
Surplus
£4.51m
2019–20
Details for 2019–20
£8.31m£3.8m£4.51m
Spending
£3.8m
Surplus
£4.51m
2020–21
Details for 2020–21
£3.91m£3.96m£-0.05m
Spending
£3.96m
Surplus
£-0.05m
2021–22
Details for 2021–22
£7.13m£3.8m£3.33m
Spending
£3.8m
Surplus
£3.33m
2022–23
Details for 2022–23
£8.03m£3.85m£4.18m
Spending
£3.85m
Surplus
£4.18m
2023–24
Details for 2023–24
£8.73m£4.3m£4.43m
Spending
£4.3m
Surplus
£4.43m
2024–25
Details for 2024–25
£9.51m£4.72m£4.79m
Spending
£4.72m
Surplus
£4.79m
2025–26
Details for 2025–26
£10.26m£4.89m£5.37m
Spending
£4.89m
Surplus
£5.37m

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

Wiltshire UA: on-street and car park accounts
YearOn-street incomeOn-street spendingCar park incomeCar park spendingPenalty income
2017–18
Details for 2017–18
£1.36m£1.47m£6.24m£1.75m£0.55m
On-street spending
£1.47m
Car park income
£6.24m
Car park spending
£1.75m
Penalty income
£0.55m
2018–19
Details for 2018–19
£1.59m£1.72m£6.65m£2.01m£0.69m
On-street spending
£1.72m
Car park income
£6.65m
Car park spending
£2.01m
Penalty income
£0.69m
2019–20
Details for 2019–20
£1.57m£1.69m£6.73m£2.12m£0.59m
On-street spending
£1.69m
Car park income
£6.73m
Car park spending
£2.12m
Penalty income
£0.59m
2020–21
Details for 2020–21
£1.07m£1.66m£2.84m£2.30m£0.50m
On-street spending
£1.66m
Car park income
£2.84m
Car park spending
£2.30m
Penalty income
£0.50m
2021–22
Details for 2021–22
£1.70m£1.59m£5.43m£2.21m£1.70m
On-street spending
£1.59m
Car park income
£5.43m
Car park spending
£2.21m
Penalty income
£1.70m
2022–23
Details for 2022–23
£1.64m£1.40m£6.38m£2.45m£0.00m
On-street spending
£1.40m
Car park income
£6.38m
Car park spending
£2.45m
Penalty income
£0.00m
2023–24
Details for 2023–24
£1.90m£1.63m£6.83m£2.67m£0.85m
On-street spending
£1.63m
Car park income
£6.83m
Car park spending
£2.67m
Penalty income
£0.85m
2024–25
Details for 2024–25
£2.21m£1.83m£7.30m£2.89m£1.18m
On-street spending
£1.83m
Car park income
£7.30m
Car park spending
£2.89m
Penalty income
£1.18m
2025–26
Details for 2025–26
£2.69m£1.99m£7.57m£2.90m£2.69m
On-street spending
£1.99m
Car park income
£7.57m
Car park spending
£2.90m
Penalty income
£2.69m

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. Wiltshire UA is recorded as: Unitary Authority.

What can Wiltshire UA 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 Wiltshire UA compare with other councils?

Wiltshire UA 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
Wiltshire UA among the England councils nearest it, parking surplus 2025–26
NameSurplus
52. Bexley£6.25m
53. Canterbury£6.11m
54. Chelmsford£5.57m
55. Chichester£5.38m
56. Wiltshire UA (Wiltshire UA)£5.37m
57. Torbay UA£5.29m
58. Medway Towns UA£5.11m
59. Harrow£5.10m
60. Plymouth UA£5.06m

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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