New data has revealed that Hampshire County Council (HCC) has collected £2,060,037 from residential parking permits since 2020, with revenue almost quadrupling in five years.

The figures obtained through a Freedom of Information request by cinch, the UK’s biggest online used car retailer, also show that permit costs have risen sharply across Hampshire – up to 1,000 per cent in some areas.

According to the request, Hamble residents now pay the highest fees, with the cost of a first permit rising from £100 in 2023 to £110 in 2024.

Charges for additional permits in the same household have soared, with a third permit in Eastleigh now £215 – more than four times the price of a first permit.

Alongside these rising costs, the number of residential parking permits issued in Hampshire has grown by 213 per cent in four years, from 4,161 in 2020 to 13,052 in 2024.

The biggest spike in demand occurred between 2022 and 2023, when issued permits jumped by 82 per cent.

HCC’s income from parking permits over the last five years:

Sam Sheehan, cinch motoring editor, commented: “Parking permits can be great for making sure residents have somewhere to park near their homes, but there should be a balance between affordability and accessibility.

“Our research shows that parking permits are getting more expensive across the UK, putting extra financial strain on residents already dealing with rising living costs.

“Multi-car households are often the most affected. Second and third permits come at a premium and can be as much as four times more expensive than a first permit in some areas.”

More information at: https://www.cinch.co.uk/.