Cost of parking in Lambeth set to quadruple for owners of 'gas guzzling cars'

The cost of parking in a South London borough is set to more than quadruple for owners of some cars. Lambeth Council wants to change how it charges for parking and make drivers with more polluting vehicles pay more. 

But the cost of parking even the most eco-friendly cars will triple under the proposed changes for 2023/24. Officials say they hope the price hikes will get more cars off the road and encourage people to take public transport, cycle or walk instead. 

Drivers of the 2015 Volkswagen Golf will be among the biggest losers from the planned changes. Cars which produce between 91g and 100g of C02 per km like the 2015 Golf would be hit with a yearly charge of £193.32 for a parking permit, up from just £39.90 at present. 

Those lucky enough to own a gas guzzling supercar like the Lamborghini Aventador 6.5 would face paying the most to park. An annual resident permit for the most polluting cars is set to jump from £340.73 to £500 under the proposed increases. 

Owners of environmentally friendly electric cars that produce no C02 will see the cost of an annual permit jump from £39.90 to £120.21 under the planned changes. There will be 13 different tariffs drivers could end up paying for a permit, depending on how polluting their vehicle is. 

On-street parking is also set to become more expensive for all drivers, except those who have the most eco-friendly cars. For those with electric cars, parking in most areas will remain at the current price of £3.94 per hour. But owners of the biggest gas guzzlers will have to pay 40 per cent extra, or £5.52 per hour to park. 

Drivers of the Nissan Qashqai, the UK's most popular car last year, would have to pay 12 per cent more or £4.41 per hour on most streets under the proposed increases. 

The price of parking in areas of the borough with different hourly fees, such as Kennington, Waterloo, Robertson Street and Cavendish Road will use the same emissions surcharge structure. Council car parks such as Brixton Pope's Road, Waylett's Place car park in Norwood and Leigham Court car park in Streatham will also charge the same emissions surcharge. 

Car ownership in Lambeth is lower than the London average, with just four in 10 families owning a car. But more than a quarter of the borough's yearly carbon emissions are linked to car pollution, according to the Labour-led council. 

Lambeth wants to reduce the number of journeys made by car in the borough by 27 per cent by 2030. Residents can give their opinions on the proposed parking charge increases online until March 10. 

Cllr Rezina Chowdhury, the council's cabinet member for clean air, said: "These proposed changes will make our parking fees structure fairer and more reflective of the different levels of pollution produced by vehicles.

"We would like to link the amount drivers will pay to their car tax band. This way we can ensure those who pollute the most are charged the most to park.

"Air pollution kills around 100 residents every year and hospitalises a further 750. It is a risk for everyone in our borough but particularly for those with vulnerabilities including elderly people and children.

"Doing nothing is not an option. We need to take decisive action now in order for Lambeth to be a fairer, healthier and more climate resilient place to live and work for years to come."

Proposed price for Lambeth resident parking permit 2023/24:

Band A (Zero C02 g/Km): £120.21

Band B (1-50 C02 g/Km): £135.37

Band C (51-75 C02 g/Km): £152.44

Band D (76-90 C02 g/Km): £171.67

Band E (91-100 C02 g/Km): £193.32

Band F (101-110 C02 g/Km): £217.70

Band G (111-130 C02 g/Km): £245.16

Band H (131-150 C02 g/Km): £276.08

Band I (151-170 C02 g/Km): £310.90

Band J (171-190 C02 g/Km): £350.11

Band K (191-225 C02 g/Km): £394.27

Band L (226-255 C02 g/Km): £444.00

Band M (Over 255 C02 g/Km): £500.00