Councillors to review parking changes

Following feedback from local residents and businesses, several changes to car parking charges are being considered at June’s Executive Meeting.

In April, new pricing for car parking was introduced after being approved at Budget Full Council.

Since the implementation of the new charges, the council has listened to residents and businesses most affected by the changes who have shared their concerns.  

As a result,  Executive will review the parking arrangements at the meeting on 3 June 2025 and consider a number of proposed changes. Executive will also be asked to agree to a consultation as part of a review of the impact of carparking charges on the economy and communities, the outcome of which will be taken to a future Executive meeting.

An initial analysis of the economic impact is very positive, with Parliament Street showing an increase in footfall of 28.7% year on year comparing April figures and an increase in spend of 3.7% year on year, continuing to buck the national trend. 

Councillor Claire Douglas, Leader of City of York Council said: “We have recognised the strength of feeling and feedback from local communities following the implementation of new parking charges and continue to listen to concerns. At the upcoming Executive meeting we will consider a number of options which seek to address the issues raised, while still supporting our ambitions to develop a healthier, more sustainable and better connected city.

“Setting a budget is never easy and we are very grateful for those who responded to the consultation carried out over several months last year, whether attending a workshop or filling in our survey.  I look forward to having further discussions.”

Councillor Kate Ravilious, Executive Member for Transport said: “Money from car parking goes straight back into improving our highways and public transport. This year we have increased investment in our highway maintenance programme to £10M, meaning more potholes are being repaired on York’s roads – with over 9,000 repaired last year alone.

“We are also investing over £50M in sustainable travel improvements, including ticket concessions for young people, better real time information and in the Station Gateway scheme which includes a bus interchange. This is all focused on making it easier for everyone to get around. To do this we must tackle congestion which residents have told us has a detrimental impact on how they live and work in the city, including their health and wellbeing.

“In recent weeks I have been listening to local residents and businesses. Everyone’s love and support for our incredible independent businesses has shone through.. One of the great strengths of the city is the vibrant local economies that residents enjoy in their local areas. We continue to listen and as a result we are looking at reviewing some of the parking charges in line with our transport strategy and using a data led and evidence based approach.”

At the meeting, Executive will consider a range of interim options which could be introduced while a review into the impact of the car parking charges takes place. These include:

• approving an increase in the discount for the Minster Badge to 30% of the standard parking charge, from the current 24% to reduce the impact of increased parking charges on residents
• maintaining existing pricing at all city centre car parks
• introduce an “outside the inner ring road” lower parking rate including Bishopthorpe Road, which it’s proposed is moved in line with charges approved for community car parks at East Parade and Rowntree Park in the council’s 2025-26 Budget. This would mean Bishopthorpe Road car park would become £3 per hour with a maximum stay of three hours, it would be £2.10 per hour for Minster Badge holders. It will also mean no Friday, Saturday or event uplift and no evening charge in these car parks
• approving the adjustment of charges in the Micklegate and Priory Street area to the ‘outside the inner ring road’ on-street parking rate, rather than its existing higher city centre rate to recognise the anomalously low parking charges in this area previously and to give local businesses time to adjust. This will be reviewed in the future. City centre evening parking rates for this area will still apply.
• approving that East Parade Car Park should remain matched to the ‘outer’ on-street local parking rate to ensure consistency across out of city centre parking and reflect the different nature of local shopping areas outside of the immediate city centre.
• removing the proposed charges for dedicated motorcycle bays. to recognise that the motorcycle bays are generally in locations where a car space is not possible. 
• increase the discount for Low Emission vehicle permits to 20%, from the current 16% discount to set a discount that better reflects the contribution of all types of vehicles to congestion and takes in account the land-use impact of vehicle parking 
• approve that Contract Parking permits are no longer linked to Season Tickets, and will be set at last year’s prices, plus circa 5% increase, with a 20% discount for low emission vehicles to recognise the unique circumstances of the small number of residents who live within the city walls without access to Resident parking schemes.
• to undertake a review and develop a policy position around travel to places of worship.
• accept the challenge to review parking charges under the Traffic Management Act 2004, this will include consultation with businesses and residents and community groups.

If approved, the new charges will need to be advertised for 21 days in accordance with legislation, meaning those charges implemented will come into effect late June/early July and be subject to a pending review.

Should Executive approve a change to the amount paid for the low vehicle emission discount, Contract, Season and ResPark permits holders will be refunded the difference with more details of this to follow.