The London Borough of Harrow will change the pricing structure of its resident parking scheme from April.
Fairer pricing structure for resident parking launched amid record investment
- A more consistent pricing structure across emissions classes and for households with multiple vehicles
- £42 million for road repairs over the next three years
- 225 new public charging points for electric vehicles
The scheme will continue to support the council’s commitment to emissions-based charging and will offer fairer pricing across the range of vehicle classes.
The new structure standardises the surcharge for each additional vehicle, so households with multiple permits for vehicles in different emissions bands will pay a consistent price, regardless of the order in which the permits are purchased.
Alongside these changes, the council has committed to a range of measures, and record investment, to improve Harrow’s roads and parking facilities. Its annual spend on road and pavement repairs will more than double from April, rising from £6 million to £14 million, with a total of £42 million committed over the next three years.
It will press ahead with a significant expansion of on-street electric vehicle infrastructure in Harrow, with the installation of 225 public charging points. The council has also committed to move to a system of virtual permits for resident parking zones, while continuing to offer one hour’s free parking in all council-owned pay and display spaces.
Cllr David Ashton, Cabinet Member for Finance and Highways, said, “We’ve looked very carefully at our system of charges for resident parking. We’ve changed the scheme to make it fairer and easier to understand, while continuing to support those choosing to drive low-polluting vehicles.
“Our multimillion-pound investment is recognition of the importance of our road and parking network. It is the lifeblood of our borough, and we’re committed to helping residents get around safely and efficiently.”
Residents that currently hold permits will shortly receive further information.
The changes explained
The London Borough of Harrow charges different rates for resident parking permits based on vehicle emissions. A household with one electric vehicle will pay substantially less than a household with one high-polluting diesel.
The council charges a surcharge for each additional permit. This recognises the limited space available in our resident parking zones. We think it’s fair that households taking up two or more spaces should pay an additional charge on top of the cost of their permit for a second, third or fourth car.
Under the old pricing system, households with multiple vehicles could pay a different price depending on which vehicle was considered first, second or third. For instance, buying a permit for a petrol car producing 150g of carbon per km, then adding a second permit for a diesel producing 150g of carbon per km would produce a slightly different charge than if the diesel was classed as the first vehicle and the petrol as the second.
The new structure removes this inconsistency – in the example above, from April 2025, the price would be the same.