Future proposals for parking charges and permits

Across the district, Bradford Council manages and maintains a number or public car parking locations with both on-street and off street options, these include the city centre, various towns and village centres and in popular locations such as Ilkley, Haworth and Saltaire. The Council also manages residential and business parking permits. This initiative will introduce a more consistent and standardised approach to charging across the district.

Standardisation of off-street parking charges (Car Parks)

Under the proposals it will cost £1 per hour for the first three hours, or £4 for over three hours at car parks in towns and villages across the Bradford District.

A number of car parks already charge this rate, however, to standardise the charging structure the changes have now been implemented at the sites listed below.

• Shipley - Saville, Shipley Swimming Pool, Market Place, Atkinson Street, Westcliffe Road, Wharf Street and Briggate
• Baildon - Ian Clough and The Grove
• Wilsden - Royds House
• Bingley - St Ives
• Keighley - Carr Street, Scott Street and Church Green
• Silsden - Bridge Street and Wesley Place

The Council has introduced new locations for pay and display car parks at the below locations and charges the new standardised prices detailed above.

• Steeton - Market Street
• Idle - The Green
• Burley in Wharfedale - Main Street
• Addingham - Main Street and Bolton Road
• Wibsey - Tennyson Road
• Leeds Road – Orange Street

Based on local need and feedback from residents and businesses, we are offering contract car parking permits for the sites in Wibsey, Idle and Burley in Wharfedale.

At its high demand car parks, the council has adopted a charge of £1.50 per hour from 8am to 10pm, this has replaced the previous £1 evening charge which applied from 6pm to midnight, normal charges now also apply on Bank Holidays. A key reason for this is to encourage a regular turnover of vehicles in popular over-subscribed locations. The legally approved order has the option to apply to charge blue badge holders however this has not been enacted.

The current high demand car parks are:

• Bradford City Centre - Crown Court Vicar Lane, Sharpe Street, Radwell Drive, Raphael House and Jacobs Well (Currently closed) and Central Library(MMT)
• Saltaire - Exhibition Road and Caroline Street
• Ilkley - South Hawksworth, Railway Road and Wharfe View Road
• Haworth - Museum

In order for the proposed charges to be adopted the Council has undertaken a formal consultation process, a draft legal order was developed and published together with a map showing the affected locations alongside the Statement of Reasons which outlined the rationale for proposing the changes.

The proposed changes were advertised in the Telegraph and Argus, Bingley, Shipley and Keighley libraries and in all the affected car parks. The consultation period began 9 May and ended on 7 June 2024. All objections were responded to. The legal order was sealed on the 11 July 2024 and advertised in the Telegraph and Argus.

Permit schemes

As part of an annual review process, the Council has reviewed the costs we charge for permits and has introduced the following pricing structure:

• A charge of £250 per year for Ilkley Worker Contract and Ilkley Business Permits, which can be paid by instalments throughout the year.
• A £35 per year charge for Residents and Visitor permits, Special and Health and Social Care Visitors Permits. We reviewed other local authorities in the area and found £35 P/A was the average charging point.
• An £80 charge per year for Business Permits in residential permit schemes.
• New charges of £40 per year for an Additional Visitors Permit (note this is a new permit type which may only be accessible for certain schemes).

The charges are in line with other neighbouring local authorities and the income generated helps to preserve existing on street parking and traffic schemes.

A consultation period was in place for the proposed Order from 12 August to 16 September 2024. Objections were reviewed and responded to, with the Notice of Making being advertised on 3 October and the Revision of Pay and Display Charges and Permit Charges: Tariff and Charges (No.1) Order 2024 coming into place from 10 October 2024.

Standardisation of on–street parking charges

The Council manages a number of on street pay and display parking locations, the Council is looking to standardise prices for these locations across the Bradford District.

In Bradford, the pedestrian area has been expanded bringing more currently unregulated streets into the periphery of the pedestrian core has meant the city centre has lost a significant number of on street parking places.

New Long Stay parking sites are to be created in Bradford city centre to compensate for the loss of on-street parking in the city centre over recent years. These new sites should provide enough space for increased visitor numbers.

A new simplified two-tier tariff system to distinguish between long and short stay parking will also be introduced in the city centre, with charges being introduced for Bank Holidays and the single fixed evening charge removed.

Disabled badge holders will still be free for eligible users but there will be a maximum permitted stay period for them in time-restricted parking areas. This measure brings the district into line with other parts of the region.

In Ilkley, the current free parking period allowed before charges come into effect will be removed. The hours in which charges apply will also be extended and Bank Holiday will also be chargeable.

Details of the new order were published in the Telegraph & Argus on Wednesday, 11 June 2025 and the objection period closed on 2 July 2025 Ref: CORP/PCD/MW/418699.

Frequently asked questions about charges for permits

You can read frequently asked questions about permit charges.