Councillors will discuss parking charges for 2026/27 on Thursday, February 12. A council report outlines proposed changes across the city, with some charges frozen, some increasing in line with the corporate inflation rate of three per cent, and others – particularly at seafront locations – facing steep rises.
Sharp rises along the seafront
The largest increases are proposed for seafront summer rates at a location described in council documents as “Seafront Summer (Bringing in East of Arch)”.
The one-hour tariff would rise from £1.60 to £5.70 – a 256 per cent increase. Two hours would increase from £3.30 to £9.80 (197 per cent), and four hours from £7 to £16.50 (135 per cent).
A new six-hour tariff of £20.70 would be introduced, while the 11-hour charge would more than double from £11.80 to £24.90 (111 per cent).
At Madeira Drive, a location referred to in the report as “Seafront Summer (Bringing in New Steine)”, summer rates would also increase significantly. One hour would rise from £3.30 to £5.70 (72 per cent), two hours from £7.40 to £9.80 (32 per cent), and four hours from £10.70 to £16.50 (54 per cent).
A new six-hour tariff of £20.70 would be introduced and the 11-hour charge would increase from £17.20 to £24.90 (44 per cent).
Black Rock and King Alfred
Parking at Black Rock during the summer would also become considerably more expensive. The one-hour charge would increase from £1.70 to £2.90 (70 per cent), two hours from £3.20 to £4.50 (40 per cent), three hours from £6.40 to £7.50 (17 per cent), and four hours from £8 to £10 (25 per cent).
A new six-hour tariff costing £13 would be introduced. The maximum 12-hour stay would rise from £12.10 to £18 – a 48 per cent increase.
The council says the purpose of the increase is “to bring this car park in line with parking charges at King Alfred”.
Winter rates at Black Rock would see much smaller increases of around five per cent. For example, four hours would rise from £8 to £8.40.
Summer charges at the King Alfred Leisure Centre car park would also rise. The one-hour tariff would increase from £2.60 to £2.90 (11 per cent), two hours from £4.10 to £4.50 (9 per cent), and three hours from £5.40 to £5.90 (9 per cent).
The four-hour charge would go up from £6.80 to £8 (17 per cent), and a new six-hour tariff of £13 would be introduced. The 12-hour rate would rise from £13.40 to £18 (34 per cent).
A quarterly season ticket would be introduced at £359.40. The annual season ticket would increase from £1,350.30 to £1,500 (11 per cent). Winter prices at King Alfred would increase by around five per cent.
Other car parks across the city
At Norton Road car park, weekday prices would increase by around three per cent in line with inflation. However, weekend charges would rise more sharply. The weekend one-hour tariff would increase from £1.70 to £1.80, two hours from £3.30 to £3.70, four hours from £6.10 to £6.90, five hours from £7.40 to £8.40, nine hours from £9 to £10.20, and 12 hours from £10.70 to £12.10.
A quarterly season ticket costing £336.70 would be introduced, and the annual season ticket would rise from £1,203.30 to £1,325.60 (10 per cent).
At Rottingdean West Street car park during the summer, the one-hour tariff would increase from £1.70 to £1.90 (12 per cent), two hours from £3.30 to £3.60 (9 per cent), and three hours from £4.80 to £5.30 (10 per cent).
In The Lanes, daytime prices at the council-owned car park would be frozen. However, evening (6pm–midnight) and night (midnight–8am) charges would both rise from £7.50 to £10 (33 per cent).
Weekend evening and night tariffs would increase from £8.50 to £12 (41.2 per cent). The lost ticket administration fee would also rise from £7.50 to £10.
Prices at London Road, Regency Square and Trafalgar Street car parks would remain unchanged.
On-street parking changes
The report also proposes changes to on-street parking tariff bands.
Zones M and part of Y in Central Brighton North – including The Level and Dyke Road – would move from the medium to the high tariff band. The one-hour charge would increase from £3.30 to £4.90, a rise of 48 per cent.
Zones C, H, J and N would move from the low to the medium tariff band, with one hour increasing from £1.60 to £2.20 (37 per cent).
Parks and green spaces
At Preston Park car park, charges would rise in line with inflation, rounded to the nearest decimal. The six-hour rate would increase from £8.40 to £8.70.
At East Brighton Park, charges would increase in line with the three per cent corporate inflation rate. Two hours would rise from £2 to £2.10, and six hours from £6.10 to £6.30.
Parking in Stanmer Park would increase by an average of 12 per cent at the church car park and at Upper Lodge (9am–8pm). The maximum 11-hour stay would rise from £6.10 to £6.80 (11 per cent).
The council says the aim is to “further encourage sustainable transport and allow a better balance of rates across the park”.
Charges at Patchway in Stanmer Park would be frozen, although it remains more expensive than other Stanmer car parks, with 11 hours costing £9.20.
Vale Park parking would increase in line with the three per cent inflation rate. It is also proposed that parking charges be introduced at Victoria Park, subject to a Traffic Regulation Order consultation.
In a statement released today the council stated parking charges in Brighton and Hove “will remain fair and be simplified under proposals”.
This comes a year after all parking fees and charges were frozen for 2025/26.
It stated resident, trader and business permits would “only go up in line with corporate inflation of 3%, with season ticket prices rising by around 5% but permits for schools, doctors and paid and unpaid carers would be frozen”.
How money from fees and charges is spent
A spokesman said: “Money the council receives in parking fees and charges pays for the cost of parking enforcement which is important to keeping traffic flowing round the city and ensuring public safety and access.
A”ny surplus is spent on provision of public transport services or to road, air quality or environmental improvements.
“The surplus pays for thousands of concessionary bus passes for older and disabled people.
“It also supports bus routes that would otherwise not be commercially viable, and is used for transport schemes that promote safe, active and sustainable travel.”
Councillor Trevor Muten, Cabinet member for Transport and City Infrastructure, said: “It’s important we keep the cost of parking in the city simple and fair. We were able to freeze all parking charges in 25/26 and we’ve worked hard to ensure fees and charges remain reasonable for 26/27 while also recognising our budget challenges.
“Freezing charges on our barrier operated car parks and introducing early bird and late night offers make them an attractive option for people coming into the city to work, shop or eat and drink.
“The vast majority of permit increases are in line with inflation, and I’m pleased we’ve frozen permit charges for paid and unpaid carers, supporting those who need it most. A 6 hour tariff will also close the current gap between the 4 and 12 hour rates.
“The new seafront tariff will simplify charges in the busiest area of the city where we know demand is high, especially during the summer months.”
Councillors are expected to debate the proposals before making a final decision.
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