Parking Strategy

The Council’s new Kerbside and Parking strategies form part of the council’s ambitious plans for a healthier, greener and safer Hounslow. The strategies update how Hounslow’s parking and kerbside spaces are used, ensuring streets and public areas are designed for all ages, abilities and incomes, while building resilience to poor air quality and climate change.

This page focuses on the Council’s Parking strategy.

Why is parking important?

Hounslow requires a progressive car parking strategy to manage and enhance its existing provision to meet emerging trends. The Parking Strategy looks to maximise benefits for users, as well as enhancing parking management by examining a number of key areas. These include parking supply, safety & security, signage, future mobility (e.g. electric charging points), pricing, operations, active travel options (e.g. cycling, walking), accessible and priority parking (e.g. for people with disabilities or parent and toddler bays).

What is our Parking Strategy?

Travel by car and other motor vehicles plays an important role in our borough.
Whilst the Council is committed to rising to the challenges of climate change, cutting air pollution and encouraging more people to use healthier, sustainable travel options such as walking and cycling, we appreciate that many people still rely on the car for essential journeys. This is particularly true for residents of our borough who have mobility issues.

We have developed a Parking Strategy to ensure that Council-operated car parks are high quality and continue to be a valued part of the borough’s transport network.

The Parking Strategy is our borough-wide vision for parking management and will guide the Council’s actions over the years ahead.

What are the key changes in Hounslow Council's new Parking Strategy?

Key elements of the Parking Strategy include:

Ongoing improvement to Council-owned car parks, including more accessible parking for residents with mobility issues.
Improving and enhancing the technology and signage within and on the approaches to Council-owned car parks.
Introducing different types of permit types and reviewing how Controlled Parking Zones (CPZ) are identified and prioritised.

How does the new Parking Strategy support environmental goals?

The Parking Strategy will work alongside the Council’s Kerbside Strategy to introduce a range of measures supporting the Council’s climate and environment ambitions and helping residents improve their physical and mental health and wellbeing.
This includes:

A commitment to expanding the borough’s network of Electric Vehicle Charging Points.
The promotion of car-sharing and car clubs.
Emission-based charging at Council-operated car parks to encourage greater use of low-emissions vehicles.
Looking at how cycle-parking facilities can be increased across the borough.

What are the goals we want to achieve through the Parking Strategy?

The objectives of the Parking Strategy are:

Improved Health and Wellbeing - there is a link between poor air quality and health issues. That’s why we are incentivising low-emission vehicles and reducing congestion by making it easier to park for essential journeys.
Better Accessibility and Inclusion - We are designing our streets for all abilities, ages and incomes, ensuring everyone can get around with more transport options.
Futureproofing Hounslow - Embracing new technology and management models, including through fees and permits, will ensure Hounslow can effectively manage existing and future demand for parking.
More Sustainable Mobility - An effective Parking Strategy can reduce the need for non-essential car trips. This will make our streets safer, healthier and more accessible for everyone.
Achieving Prosperity & Better Places - Parking plays an important role in stimulating our local economy. Including the right type and balance of parking in the right places can help strengthen our communities.

What happens next?

Now that the Parking Strategy has been adopted by the Council, we will be looking to roll out the various elements of the plan over the years ahead.
We will be keeping our residents and other stakeholders informed of our progress every step of the way.
For regular updates on the progress of the Parking Strategy, keep coming back to the Council’s website and social media channels (X, Facebook, LinkedIn)

For more information about the Parking Strategy, read the Cabinet Report or read the Parking Strategy in full.