Proposals to improve our resident parking permit scheme

Last year we consulted on changes to how the resident parking permit scheme works in Wokingham Borough. The new policy was approved by the council’s Executive on 20 November 2025. You can view the proposed changes in Phase 4.

The next step in this process is a Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) consultation. The purpose of the TRO consultation is to allow residents and others to raise any concerns that they believe may not have already been considered. The revised policy has already been approved – the consultation now is about where and how the new policy will be applied.

Valid considerations in a TRO consultation must relate to traffic management grounds, such as how the proposed restriction affects safety, traffic flow and access to properties.

To read more about the proposals and to comment visit Proposed Residential Parking Scheme (Amendment 4).

View and comment on the TRO

We're reviewing the borough's residents' parking scheme – so that it's consistent, fair and effective. We’re putting forward proposals, setting out how we aim to achieve this and improve the existing scheme currently in operation.

As part of that, we're proposing to update our Resident Parking Policy, which you can download and read in full. You can also scroll down to the foot of this page and click through to a copy of the proposed new policy and leave comments on it.

We'd like to hear your views, to help us deliver the best scheme we can. By way of background, the current scheme was introduced in 2017 and created 16, street-specific parking zones. Our new proposals would, in cases, create significantly bigger Zones – defined not by street but by area – but which would have immediate benefits:

Creating more parking spaces for residents.
More evenly managing demand for parking.

We’ve considered two alternatives, before reaching this point. The first allowed properties to only be eligible for one parking permit. The second allowed properties in new zones to only be eligible for one parking permit, while allowing properties in existing zones, if previously eligible, to still be able to have two permits. Both were discounted, because they would have been inconsistent and unfair.

We've also reviewed how resident parking schemes work elsewhere in Berkshire, and in Oxfordshire – to help guide and act as benchmarks for our proposals we’re now sharing with you for your input and feedback.

Why we are proposing changes

Manage parking demand effectively in residential areas: To ensure that parking spaces in neighbourhoods are used efficiently and fairly to prevent overcrowding, illegal parking, and inconvenience to residents, regulating who can park and optimising available kerbside space to monitor and control parking.
Prioritise parking for residents while allowing visitor access: Designating parking places primarily for residents and their visitors to ensure sufficient space is available before providing kerbside parking spaces for other types of parking, such as business permit bays or pay and display parking.
Reduce congestion and discourage long-term commuter parking: Introduce parking controls like limited waiting or timed restrictions to prevent commuter parking to ensure the road network remains clear and operates effectively.
Support local businesses and maintain accessibility: Establish appropriate controls in on- and off-street parking places, to manage the turnover of spaces for the benefit of businesses and their customers. Our proposals prevent commuter parking. Alongside existing limited waiting bays, this can increase parking accessibility for businesses.
Promote sustainable transport and reduce environmental impacts: Encourage alternative travel options like walking and cycling, enable easier access to public transport and provide EV charging spaces in residential streets where possible.

View proposed and existing Wokingham zone maps

*The proposed zone below T4 in Brook Street, unlike other proposed zones, will remain street-specific due to its unique character.

View proposed Twyford zone maps

*No boundary changes are being proposed to the existing zones below in Earley [E1], Emmbrook [W10] and Remenham [R1].

View existing Earley zone map

View Wokingham zone maps

View existing Remenham zone map

The big picture – what’s being proposed

Redefined boundaries for Controlled Parking Zones [CPZ] where parking permits apply.
Standardised restrictions for resident parking bays across all zones operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week. All other restrictions between 6am and 10pm standardised, providing more protection to residents.
Amending the hours of limited waiting bay restrictions to Monday to Sunday, 6am to 10pm, to align them with hours of operation of council managed car parks, and avoiding overspill from car parks into these areas.
Parking permits consistently capped at a maximum of two per household, across all zones.
A new digital, parking permit scheme.
A clear, future process for requesting and proposing new CPZs, requiring more than 40 per cent of residents to support, alongside evidence that more than 60 per cent of kerbside spaces are regularly occupied.

The detail – what’s important for you to know

Eligibility for parking permits would be based on off-street parking, including garages, at your property. If your home has no off-street parking, you would be able to apply for up to two parking permits. Households with one off-street parking space would be eligible for one parking permit. Households with two or more off-street parking spaces would not be eligible for any parking permits.
This is a residents' parking permit scheme. Businesses are not eligible to apply for permits.
Off-street parking spaces are defined as dedicated vehicle spaces, provided on or close to a property, at least 12 square metres in size. They include driveways, and they include garages, which are at least 18 square metres in size.
To acknowledge the value of a prime location street parking space, a first parking permit would cost £55. A second permit, if eligible, would cost £105 in a tiered pricing model. Permit costs would pay for administration and management of the scheme, and have been benchmarked against other councils in Berkshire and Oxfordshire. Previously, all Wokingham Borough parking permits had a flat price of £35. The proposed tiered pricing model is aimed at encouraging the use of sustainable transport, and helping to manage the demand for parking in controlled parking zones.
Each parking permit would be able to list up to three vehicles against it. All vehicles must be registered with the DVLA to the same address within a zone. Only one vehicle can be active and use the permit to park at any one time.
To be eligible for a parking permit, vehicles must be no more than 5 metres long and 2.1 metres high.
A street-specific Permit Parking Area is being proposed for Zone T4 [Brook Street, Twyford], reflecting the street's unique needs and conditions.
No boundary changes are being proposed to existing parking zones in Earley [E1], Emmbrook [W10] and Remenham [R1].

The detail – for visitor permits, and other groups

In line with neighbouring councils, visitor parking permits would be available for 3hr, 6hr, 12hr, and for 24hr, to provide residents with different options. Batches of 10 visitor permits, respectively, are proposed to cost £12, £20, £30 and £50 [a reduced price compared to nearby car parks]. Households would be able to purchase up to 100 visitor permits over a year. Households in a Zone where 80% or more of kerbside space is allocated to parking permit holders would be able to apply for up to 50 visitor permits annually. Purchased visitor permits would expire after one year.
Multiple occupancy households (HMO) would be eligible for parking permits under the same terms and conditions as other households. Previously, multiple occupancy households were not eligible for permits. HMOs are properties with three or more people, forming two or more households, who share some living space such as kitchens or bathrooms.
If you receive a state pension, you would be able to purchase parking permits under the same terms and conditions as all other residents. Previously, permits for people receiving their state pension were free. However, state pensioner households today can enjoy a greater income than households of people of working age. In keeping with our ambitions for the borough, we want life to be as fair as possible, and we also want to encourage greener forms of transport.
If you have a disabled blue badge, you would be able to apply for one free parking permit. If you’re a two-vehicle household, both with blue badges, you could apply for [up to] two free permits.

If, after reading the information on this page, you have a question, please email us at TM.Consultations@wokingham.gov.uk.

And if you wish to take the survey but are unable to do so online, contact the council’s customer services team on 0118 974 6000, or visit a library to request a paper copy or PDF copy. You can also use the Contact us form on our website.

TAKE OUR SURVEY

Comment on any part of our proposed new policy

Below, you can click through to read, in full, our proposed new Resident Parking Policy for Wokingham Borough. The document is 20 pages long. We wanted to share it with you, so that you have the chance to comment on any part of it.