Hillingdon residents face parking rise of about 70% from April as council confirms changes

From next spring, Hillingdon residents will pay about 70% more to park on the borough's streets. The council's cabinet signed off a package of higher fees and charges on Thursday 22 October.

Parking charges will go up by 15% across the board. The resident discount for Hillingdon First cardholders will also be cut from roughly 40% to about 10%. For residents, the two changes together add up to an increase of around 70%. Drivers who do not hold the card face the 15% rise only.

What residents will pay

From 1 April 2027, the resident rate for up to one hour of on-street parking will go from £1.50 to £2.60. Up to an hour and a half will rise from £2.40 to £4.10, and up to two hours from £3.30 to £5.70.

Each extra 20 minutes after that will cost £1.40 instead of 80p. Residents will still get their first 30 minutes of parking free each day.

Resident permits also go up 15%, so a first permit will cost £106.30 a year instead of £92.40. Permit prices last rose on 6 April 2026, after the cabinet approved them in December 2025 and full council confirmed them in February 2026.

Other charges

The package also changes several other council services. Leisure centre fees will go up by 4% from 1 December. The discount on bulky waste collections for residents aged over 65 has been removed.

Garden waste collection is the only charge going down. It will cost £8 a year less.

The fees decision is separate from the council's other proposals on how parking is paid for, which it put forward in September. Those plans would make the Hillingdon First discount, including the free half hour, available only through Pay by Phone. They also include fewer ticket machines, a registration number on every ticket, a digital replacement for the physical card and Sunday charges in Hayes. The cabinet is due to make a final decision on those proposals once the consultation closes.

MP and council leader at odds

Danny Beales, the Labour MP for Uxbridge and South Ruislip, has urged the council to reconsider. He warned about the extra cost to residents and the effect that higher parking charges could have on local high streets and businesses.

Council leader Cllr Steve Tuckwell, who leads the Conservative group, defended the rises in a statement on Sunday 25 October. He also criticised the MP and the Labour government's funding settlement for councils. He said: "Hillingdon residents have benefited from some of the lowest parking charges in London for many years and will continue to do so."

The council argued at the cabinet meeting that its current fees and charges needed to be reviewed, saying it had compared them with other councils and that charges would remain good value.

Residents cannot challenge a cabinet decision themselves. Under the council's rules, councillors can ask its Audit, Finance and Performance Committee to call a decision in for review. The committee can then let the decision stand or send it back to the cabinet, which has the final say.

Unless the decision is changed, the new parking charges will start on 1 April 2027. Residents can find current tariffs and details of the Hillingdon First card on the Hillingdon Council website.