Car parking charges to rise

April 1, 2026

Parking charges across town and city centres in County Durham will increase this Spring.

From April, rates for on and off-street parking will rise after the changes were approved by Durham County Council leaders in February.

As part of the local authority’s latest budget, tariffs in Durham City will increase by 30p per hour for off-street parking and 15p per hour for on-street parking in council-run car parks.

The local authority said its city centre parking charges are competitive compared to private sector operators in the city centre and other areas around the North East.

Visitors to Durham City can also use the council-run Park and Ride service, which aims to reduce traffic congestion.

In Barnard Castle, Bishop Auckland, Chester-le-Street and Seaham, charges will increase by 10p per hour in all on and off-street car parks operated by Durham County Council.

Council officials said the increases are in line with the costs of running the facilities, ensuring they are funded by users and not taxpayers.

“In many of our towns where these tariff increases will apply, there are numerous free parking options a short distance from the pay and display areas,” the council added.

The price of parking permits will also increase by 40 per cent and is estimated to generate an additional £400,000 for the local authority.

The council currently charges for parking permits for residents, their visitors and construction vehicles within controlled parking areas or zones.

Permits were first introduced in 2007 to exempt residents from on-street parking charges and restrictions.

Defending the decision, Councillor Tim McGuinness, cabinet member for rural, farming and transport, previously said: “This will be the first increase in permit charges since 2015, and taking into account various increases in costs coming forward and the downtrend in income collected, it has become necessary to pass this on at a modest increase of four pence per day, per permit to users of the scheme.”