Charges are expecting to go up by an average of 10% across the city centre
10:51, 13 Jan 2026Updated 10:51, 13 Jan 2026
Council pay and display machine(Image: Liverpool Echo)
The amount it costs to park your car in Liverpool city centre is set to increase later this year under new plans to be unveiled by the city council. As part of an annual review of fees and charges, Liverpool Council is proposing hiking up the cost of an on-street parking space by as much as 20% in some places.
It was confirmed last year after a lengthy delay, free parking after 6pm would come to an end, meaning all on-street spaces within the city centre controlled parking zone (CPZ) would have charges applied until 11pm. After consultation with businesses, if agreed by the local authority’s cabinet when it meets next week, the length of stay for any space will increase to five hours after 6pm.
In a report to be considered by city leaders, the wider increase of fees and charges will “support financial recovery and sustainability” for the local authority. Studies by Liverpool Council said the prices being sought indicate the charges “remain competitive compared to other core cities and private sector operators.”
When the cabinet meets next week, members will be asked to endorse plans to increase the price of a parking ticket by an average of 11%. This means a 30 minute stay in the city centre will increase from £2 to £2.30, with an hour going up to £4.40 from £4.
A Council parking meter outside the Cunard Building(Image: Liverpool Echo)
A two-hour bay will increase from £6 to £6.50. Parking before 6pm will be limited to four hours maximum stay, increasing to five hours after, as revealed by the ECHO in December, following consultation with businesses particularly around Hope Street.
This charge will rise from £10 to £10.60 from April 1. Council owned car parks, including at Mount Pleasant, Victoria Street, the M&S Bank Arena and Paddington Village are also expected to go up by an average of more than 8%.
In a report to members, the council set out its reasoning: “The proposed increases will generate additional income to reinvest in transport infrastructure, and recover increasing costs associated with enforcement, maintenance, and technology upgrades.
A Council pay & display sign outside the Cunard Building.(Image: Liverpool Echo)
“On-street charges will remain cheaper than the Core Cities average, and Off-street car parks will remain cheaper than the average fee for private sector car parks in Liverpool for the majority of parking periods.”
According to the council’s analysis, forecasts suggest an under-recovery of total parking and enforcement income against a budget of more than £4m. This includes almost £2.8m in unrecovered pay and display income.
The current monthly receipts for pay and display parking are thought to be just under £1m and are unlikely to fully recover over the remainder of the year, prompting a review of the charges.