New Forest generates a notable parking surplus of £2.7 million from its on-street and off-street parking operations, ranking 92 out of 282 councils in the UK according to DLUHC Revenue Outturn 2024-25 data. The total income from these activities stands at £4.7 million, with all of this coming exclusively from off-street parking as on-street parking generates no revenue for the district.
on 10 April 2026
How Much Does New Forest Make from Parking?
New Forest's parking surplus is a significant figure in the context of its local government operations. The total income generated by parking activities in 2024-25 amounted to £4.7 million, which includes both on-street and off-street facilities. However, all this revenue comes exclusively from off-street parking; there's no reported income from on-street parking.
Penalty charge notices (PCNs) contribute nothing to New Forest's total parking income. This means that the entire surplus of £2.7 million comes solely from non-PCN-related sources such as fees for using car parks and other forms of off-street facilities. Given that PCNs account for no part of this income, it suggests a focus on generating revenue through regular user charges rather than fines.
According to the DLUHC Revenue Outturn 2024-25, new forest generated a parking surplus of £2.7 million in 2024-25
How Does New Forest Compare to Other Councils?
New Forest ranks 92 out of 282 councils in terms of parking surplus generated during the financial year. While significant compared to its peers, there's considerable variation across the country: some local authorities make ten times or more what others generate. The national total parking surplus for all councils combined was £1,144.5 million, with PCN income contributing £739.5 million towards this total.
The disparity in income between different councils highlights the varying approaches to managing and regulating parking spaces and charges across the UK. New Forest's approach clearly leans more heavily on user fees rather than fines for generating revenue.
What Are Your Rights When You Get a Parking Fine in New Forest?
When you receive a penalty charge notice (PCN) in New Forest, it's important to understand whether it has been issued by the council or a private entity. Council PCNs have different rules and processes compared to those issued by private parking companies.
For council-issued PCNs, there's a 14-day period during which you can pay half of the penalty charge to reduce your liability. You also have the right to challenge the PCN formally before it reaches an independent appeal stage at the Traffic Penalty Tribunal if your informal challenges are unsuccessful. Private PCNs, on the other hand, may be appealed through POPLA or IAS depending on the operator's trade body affiliation.
Under the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012, a motorist can challenge a parking fine based on keeper liability rules which stipulate that only the person driving the vehicle at the time of the alleged infringement should face penalties. This means if you weren't driving when the infringement occurred, you have grounds to contest the charge.
How to Appeal a Parking Fine in New Forest
The process for appealing a parking fine in New Forest involves several steps:
- Informal Challenge: For council PCNs, an informal challenge within 14 days can secure a 50% discount on the penalty charge. This period is shorter than the standard 28-day window for all other challenges to ensure you take advantage of this reduction.
- Formal Representation: After receiving a Notice to Owner from your vehicle's registered keeper, you should respond formally outlining why you believe the PCN was wrongly issued.
- Independent Appeal: If these steps are unsuccessful, you can appeal independently through either the Traffic Penalty Tribunal for council-issued fines or POPLA/IAS for those issued by private operators.
According to the Traffic Penalty Tribunal, you can appeal a council parking fine for free through the traffic penalty tribunal
you don't need a claims management company to deal with this process; it's entirely free of charge and can be handled directly with your local authority.
Sources
- DLUHC Revenue Outturn 2024-25
- Traffic Penalty Tribunal
- Protection of Freedoms Act 2012
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