From 50p to £750; it's the parking permit postcode lottery ~ station of gear

The cost of an annual parking permit varies hugely in the UK with Birmingham and Manchester topping the table

2015-06-11 14:50

Parking permit prices are a postcode lottery. The cost of an annual resident parking permit could vary depending not only on where you live, but also on what car you drive, what time you park and how ‘green’ your vehicle is.

According to analysis by insurance group, Churchill Car Insurance, Birmingham and Manchester are the two most expensive cities in the UK for resident parking permits. They topped the table at £750 per year, ahead of London’s Islington borough at £434.

The difference in pricing across localities has also raised eyebrows, given the average variation in parking permit cost within a council district is £92.72.

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When compared with property prices in the respective areas, the differences are even more unfathomable. A 2-bed flat in the city centre of Birmingham can cost between £160,000-£230,000, with the most expensive at £550,000. Residents in this area pay £750 if parking is not a feature of their property. This figure drops to £215 in other areas of the city.

Comparatively, 2-bed apartments in the London borough of Islington range from £2.8 million for prestigious penthouses to £200,000 for ex-local, averaging around the £600,000-£700,000 mark. Parking in this area is based on the level of CO2 emissions for your car. Electric vehicles are free, but if your motor chucks out in excess of 256g/km CO2, parking will cost £434. This figure rises to £444 on 15th June.

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Figures from the SMMT show that CO2 emissions for new cars fell by a whopping 24 per cent in 2014. This sets a record low of 124.6g/km on average for new cars. Based on these average emissions, Islington residents would pay only £75.80, a mere 10 per cent of the charge in Manchester.

Perhaps surprisingly, only four London boroughs feature in the top ten most expensive permit areas. South Ayrshire is the cheapest council, charging residents only 50p a year to park their cars. The average cost of a permit is £59.17, making Manchester and Birmingham over 12 times more expensive. Only 15 per cent of council offer free annual parking permits.

Top 10 highest UK resident parking permit costs

Rank	Council	Highest annual parking permit cost
1	Birmingham City Council	£750
1	Manchester City Council	£750
3	London Borough of Islington	£434
4	Mole Valley Council	£350
5	City of Edinburgh	£280
6	Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council	£275
7	London Borough of Hackney	£265
8	London Borough of Lambeth	£260
9	City of Glasgow	£250
9	Sevenoaks District Council	£250
9	Forest Heath District Council	£250
12	London Borough of Brent	£218
13	Mendip District Council	£215

How much do you pay for your parking permit? Let us know in the comments section below...

Cat Dow

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