Overview of Changes to Parking Charges
As part of our Parking Strategy (approved July 2024), Hounslow is proposing changes to the way we charge for Council-owned car parks, on-street parking spaces and parking permits. This new system will expand the use of emissions-based parking charges.
Emissions-based parking charges means charging for parking based on the vehicle’s level of Carbon Dioxide (CO2) emissions. The less polluting a vehicle is, the less the user pays for parking.
What exactly is changing as part of this current phase?
Hounslow already uses emissions-based parking charges for on and off-street PayByPhone parking, based on a three-band system: zero, low, and other emissions.
We propose to expand the number of bands in our emissions-based charging scheme to more accurately reflect the differing levels of emissions produced by distinct types of vehicles. This will ultimately help to promote the use of zero or lower-emission vehicles in the borough. We will be applying this scheme to resident and business permits in addition to the existing on and off-street parking charges. We are also operating a surcharge for diesel vehicles. Please note that at this stage there are changes planned for motorcycles, but this will be subject to a further consultation in the coming months.
Although we consulted on this proposal as part of our Parking Strategy in Autumn 2023, we are now undertaking the formal statutory consultation needed to introduce these changes. The consultation will run until 22 November 2024.
You can find further details on the proposed changes here:
How does it work?
The amount you pay for parking will depend on your vehicle’s CO2 emissions and fuel type. You will be able to see the emissions-based pricing immediately when paying for parking through the PayByPhone system, contactless terminals and PayPoint machines.
To check your vehicle’s emissions , visit the DVLA website. Simply enter your vehicle registration number and you’ll be able to see the relevant CO2 emissions details for your vehicle. This will determine which charging ‘band’ your vehicle falls within when parking in Hounslow.
The proposed bands are outlined in the table below. We are working on a list of example vehicles that will be added to this table in due course.
|
Hounslow Emissions Band |
Vehicle CO2 emissions |
|---|---|
| 1 | 0g/km |
|
2 |
1 to 75g/km |
|
3 |
76 to 100g/km |
|
4 |
101 to 130g/km |
|
5 |
131 to 170g/km |
|
6 |
171 to 225g/km |
|
7 |
Over 226g/km |
Supporting a Greener Hounslow
These changes follow the adoption of our Parking Strategy in July 2024, which provides a boroughwide vision for parking management. The strategy carefully balances parking priorities with the need to work towards delivery of a healthier, greener and safer Hounslow while ensuring the Council can effectively manage existing and future demand for parking.
This updated charging structure is part of a broader effort to encourage a shift to cleaner vehicles for those who cannot make trips by other modes, thereby reducing harmful pollutants, supporting the Council’s climate change goals, and improving the quality of life for everyone in the borough.
We encourage all residents to familiarise themselves with the new charging structure and check the emissions of their vehicles. Together, we can make a difference by reducing pollution and creating a greener Hounslow for future generations.
Statutory Traffic Order Consultation
Although we consulted on this proposal as part of the Parking Strategy in Autumn 2023, we are now undertaking the formal statutory consultation on the details of the traffic orders that are required to implement the emissions based parking charges.
Any person wishing to object or make any other representation to the proposed Orders should send a statement in writing, stating the grounds of the objection, to the Assistant Director of Transport & Parking, Hounslow Council, Hounslow House, 7 Bath Road, Hounslow, Middlesex TW3 3EB or by email to trafficorders@hounslow.gov.uk quoting the reference TMO/P038/24, to be received by no later than Friday, 22nd November 2024. Please note that this has been extended from the original date of 8th November 2024 to allow people more time to review the documents and comment.
At the end of the consultation period, all comments will be collated, reviewed and analysed to inform a decision on the scheme. For more information on next steps, please visit the Frequently Answered Questions page.
