The cost of parking in some of Calderdale Council’s car parks and on-street bays will change over the coming months.
The Council has reviewed parking across the borough to make sure that the right parking is provided in the right place and that it reflects the individual characteristics of each of the six main towns – Brighouse, Elland, Halifax, Hebden Bridge, Sowerby Bridge and Todmorden.
The changes to parking charges are in response to demand for parking spaces and to manage provision in these areas. They aim to introduce some consistency across the borough, whilst continuing to recognise the individual need of every town is different.
The review took into consideration other initiatives, such as planned regeneration, transportation and highways work, which may affect the supply and demand for parking, to make sure the proposals are as coordinated and ‘joined-up’ as possible, whilst still delivering the underlying principles of the Council’s borough-wide parking strategy.
Calderdale Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport and Regeneration, Cllr Sarah Courtney said:
“Each of our towns is unique, and we’ve been sensitive to that in the review. Hebden Bridge in particular is often very busy, and it can be difficult to find somewhere to park. Brighouse too is thriving; we’ve seen a 3.8% increase in footfall in the town centre compared to 2024.
“Some of our smaller towns, such as Elland, which aren’t as busy will benefit from shorter charging hours, ending at 6pm rather than 8pm, to encourage growth in its night-time economy.
“Charging for parking is a useful tool to help us manage parking in our towns and villages, to help them thrive. Any surplus generated will be used to better maintain and repair our car parks and for other transport purposes including highway maintenance.
“Charges in the inner areas of each town are designed to encourage shorter stay parking through the use of higher tariffs, so that spaces become available quite quickly, and you don’t waste time driving around hunting for somewhere to park.
“This still allows people time to pop into town to do errands, such as shopping or to attend an appointment and then frees up the space for someone else.
“People in Heptonstall, for example, will often drive into Hebden Bridge to buy their essentials or pick up a prescription as it isn’t possible to do that closer to home.
“Longer stay parking is available slightly further away from each town centre, but still within walking distance, at a lower tariff. This is designed for people who want to stay for several hours, for example for work or to meet a friend for lunch or a drink, where there’s less demand for parking spaces.”
The changes will include:
- The introduction of parking charges in areas, both on-street and off-street that are currently free and/or unrestricted;
- the extension of charging days and hours, where charges already exist;
- a review of maximum stay periods in some town centre car parks;
- a review of charging levels, which includes the use of capped rates for longer stays;
- the use of off-peak charges and
- a review of permit pricing.
The changes summarised by town are:
Brighouse
- Review of long stay hourly rates and capped rates
- Change to the length of stay in central car parks
Elland
- Review of long stay hourly rates and capped rates
- Change to the length of stay in central car park
Halifax
- Review of long stay hourly rates and capped rates
Hebden Bridge
- Introduction of on street parking charges
- Introduction of capped rates in long stay parking areas
- Use of off-peak tariffs
Sowerby Bridge
- Review of long stay hourly rates and capped rates
- Change to the length of stay in central car parks
- Introduction of on-street charges
Todmorden
- Review of long stay hourly rates and capped rates
- Change to the length of stay in central car parks.
The first changes will be introduced in early 2026, with others following once the necessary legal orders have been put in place. The income generated from charges will continue to be used to cover the costs of the Council’s parking service whilst also supporting improvements to the highways network, ongoing maintenance, including lining, and investment in parking technology.
More detailed information about our car parks, on-street parking and tariffs across the borough can be found on the Car parks and on-street parking(external link) page of the Council’s website.