Parking Review Issue 388

Four great reasons why private sector operators are switching on Unity5's Bay Monitoring

Private parking operators find themselves more frequently having to navigate a challenging landscape filled with tight budgets, the pressure to maximise revenue and the need for efficient management across various site conditions.

Many grapple with the costs associated with traditional ANPR systems, effective manual patrolling and the struggle to utilise data for informed decision-making. In this context, Unity5’s latest car park enforcement system, Bay Monitoring, offers a comprehensive solution to these challenges, providing a modern approach where standard ANPR is not possible.

Flexibility for challenging site locations

Unity5’s Bay Monitoring is specifically designed to adapt to various environments, allowing operators to effectively monitor parking in unique situations. This system provides the flexibility needed to manage areas or sites with smaller traffic patterns - without the limitations of conventional setups. By utilising budget-friendly PTZ (Pan-Tilt-Zoom) cameras, operators can easily install the system in locations where traditional ANPR might not be practical, ensuring robust and effective parking enforcement. Bay Monitoring is designed for protecting specialist bays such as Season Ticket spaces, loading bays, EV charging bays and No Stopping Zones.

Budget-friendly ANPR solution

Operators managing smaller car parks often face challenges in optimising enforcement due to limited resources and staff availability. Bay Monitoring offers a solution that reduces the time spent by wardens on routine checks, freeing them up for other essential tasks. By providing real-time occupancy status and automatic monitoring, the system minimises the need for frequent manual inspections, allowing wardens to focus on addressing more complex enforcement issues or patrolling larger, higher traffic areas.

Flexibility for challenging bays and sites

Budget-friendly ANPR solutions

Save time for your teams

Fast ANPR setup and integration

Improve efficiency by saving time within your teams

Unity5’s Bay Monitoring system seamlessly integrates with the Zatpark back office system, allowing for efficient 24/7 monitoring of parking spaces without the need for a constant physical presence. This system automates many aspects of parking enforcement, leading to improved productivity and enhanced service delivery.

Fast ANPR set up and integrations

Our ongoing collaboration with multiple leading ANPR camera providers ensures that the system integrates smoothly with existing parking management tools, such as payment gateways and cashless applications.

Obstructive parking in rural scenic spots now seems to be a year round problem

Less than scenic national car parks

People chat at the side of a road surrounded by white fields as the sky turns shades of orange on a winter’s afternoon. Ahead, the red glow of brake lights indicate the way is blocked. It looks like something’s wrong. Something is wrong… it is the cars, the hundreds of vehicles belonging to people seeking to enjoy the spectacular views without using car parks. Parked on verges, the sightseers’ cars have narrowed the roads, preventing traffic from passing, impeding gritting lorries, buses, ambulances and local people going about their business.

After three days dealing with parking problems on a snowy January weekend, Derbyshire Police end up closing areas like Winnats Pass and Rushup Edge. Sightseers were told to find alternative places to visit, and to park appropriately when they got there. Over 20 motorists will prosecuted for obstruction.

Scenes such as those seen on the roads of the Peak District underline the fact that antisocial parking is not just an urban problem. National Parks and bodies like the National Trust have been looking at ways of meeting the needs of visitors, such as tourist park & ride services. And in some areas planning disputes have arisen over proposals to provide seasonal parking in fields. But the sheer weight of vehicles heading to the countryside makes it likely policeled enforcement actions will continue to be required, come rain, shine or snow. Enjoy the view… of the car parked in front of you.

Mark Moran Editor

Parking Review online: www.parkingreview.co.uk

March 2025

Peak District traffic jams illustrate the problems of tourist parking

CAR PARKS 2025

Wednesday 2 April 2025 | 15

The place for talking about parking spaces

London SE1

Car Parks 2025 is an event focused on the design, construction, operation and maintenance of parking structures. The day will offer topical presentations, expert panels and a chance to network with colleagues in an exhibition showcasing the latest systems and services.

Key themes

At Car Parks 2025 expert panels will address key issues and answer questions on:

l Car park design

l Selecting structural systems

l Managing car parks

l Exterior design

l Fire safety

l Electric vehicle charging

l Payment technology

l Renovation and refurbishment

Exhibiting opportunities

To discuss exhibiting opportunities at the North East Parking Show, contact Jason Conboy on: 020 7091 7895

Exhibitors include:

Speakers

Confirmed speakers and panellists include:

l Ian Bailey, CROSS-UK

l Sean Cleary, Cambridge City Council

l Jon Elliott, Stripe Consulting

l Elizabeth Gilliard, Chartered Institute of Logistics (CILT)

l Mark Moran, Parking Review

l Andrew Potter, Parking Perspectives

l Russell Simmons, Stripe Consulting

l Harry Smith, Stripe Consulting

l Christian Stone, Concrete Preservation Technologies

l John Taylor, 49 Car Parks

l Chris Whapples, Stripe Consulting

Book now

The Car Park Game

Presented by:

A growing number of multi-storey car parks built in the 1960s and '70s are now showing their age. Not only do many need structural renovation, but also modernisation to cope with a world in which cars are larger and electric. The question car park owners and operators have to answer is whether or not to refurbish, rebuild or replace?

Does it make sense to:

l renovate or rebuild ageing parking structures so that they offer a better parking experience in the hope this generates a better return, or…

l leave existing sites as they are but offer poorer service levels and tolerate lower yields?

The Car Park Game will explore what is the best way forward.

Protecting our people

The Beyond the Uniform campaign tackles violence and aggression towards parking patrol officers

The business

The latest appointments, promotions and merger deals from the parking management and technology sectors

Paying for parking is moving towards being a more integrated and user-friendly experience, says RingGo’s Peter O’Driscoll

What are drivers really thinking?

The RAC Report on Motoring reveals driver concerns about road conditions, safety and the transition to electric vehicles

Delivering a smarter kerbside

Increasing demand is leading local authorities to rethink how kerbspace is managed, says Arcadis’s Gonzalo Martinez Santos

The multi-modal multi-storey

Dundee City Council has started the process of converting its Bell Street car park into a green transport hub

Technology trends

AppyWay develops an Off-Street Module, Sagoss and Arvoo monitor HGVs in London and PayByPhone launches Pay on Exit

EVolution

The latest policy developments in zero-emission transport

Editorial Managing editor:

Mark Moran

Tel: 020 7091 7871

mark.moran@landor.co.uk

Deputy editor: Deniz Huseyin

Tel: 020 7091 7872

deniz.huseyin@landor.co.uk

Editorial director: Peter Stonham

Dundee’s green transport hub

Mark Wilson

Peter O’Driscoll

The smart kerbside

Rachel Reeves

Protecting our people

Beyond the Uniform campaign tackles violence and aggression towards frontline parking staff, reports Mark Moran

Uniformed patrol officers are vital to keeping traffic moving and ensuring safe, legal parking. Their role is varied, ranging from ensuring parking spaces remain accessible, supporting emergency services by keeping routes clear and helping those with disabilities or mobility issues to get around. Parking officers also play a broader role in the community, providing directions to visitors, assisting with emergencies and reporting crime or anti-social behaviour.

Sadly, recent years have seen growing reports of civil enforcement officers (CEOs) in England experiencing abuse. For example, the North Essex Parking Partnership (NEPP) reports that it has seen a 175% increase in reported verbal and physical assaults on its enforcement staff in Essex over the past three years. Brighton has seen a 75% increase in reported incidents in 2024 compared to the previous year. These incidents of workplace violence reported are based on internal reports and do not include police data. The actual number of violent and aggressive incidents is likely to be higher due to underreporting.

Abuse is often captured on body-worn video cameras by staff, including one particularly shocking incident record released by Coventry City Council, which made national headlines.

Now the parking sector has decided to tackle the problem via a public information campaign focussed on humanising the role of parking civil enforcement officers and other traffic enforcement staff. The ‘Beyond the Uniform’ campaign is being spearheaded by Brighton & Hove City Council and North Essex Parking Partnership ahead of a planned national roll-out.

The Beyond the Uniform campaign aims to address this worrying trend, educating the public and fostering empathy by

focussing on the lives and stories of the individuals involved in parking enforcement.

Brighton & Hove and NEPP are running separate campaign activities in their local areas under the Beyond the Uniform brand until April and will report on the campaign’s outcomes in the summer. PATROL will then look to coordinate a national rollout of the campaign with its wider authority membership.

Brighton and NEPP were awarded funding to develop the Beyond the Uniform campaign by Parking and Traffic Regulations Outside London (PATROL), a joint committee of over 300 local authorities in England (outside London) and Wales that enforce civil parking and other traffic restrictions.

Brighton and NEPP were joint winners of PATROL’s Driving Improvement Awards programme, which seeks to inspire and recognise local authority public awareness activities that drive positive change in the delivery of enforcement services and engagement with communities.

Laura Padden, director of PATROL, said: “The Beyond the Uniform campaign highlights that staff working in parking and traffic enforcement are everyday people, with families and hobbies like everyone else. Their work is challenging and is often met with an entrenched negative public perception that makes them, as individuals, the target of unjustifiable abuse on our streets.

“The shocking incidents reported in recent years underscore just how urgent the issue of enforcement staff abuse is, and I’m proud that PATROL is backing this important initiative. By showcasing the stories of enforcement staff, we hope to inspire a shift in attitudes and ensure these essential workers, helping to keep roads safe and traffic moving, are supported not targeted.”

Alongside supporting local authorities managing traffic and parking regulations, the principal function of the PATROL Joint Committee is to make provision for independent adjudication of appeals by motorists against traffic and parking penalties issued by local authorities and charging authorities via the Traffic Penalty Tribunal (TPT). www.patrol-uk.info

North Essex Parking Partnership

The North Essex Parking Partnership (NEPP) is committed to safeguarding its staff through comprehensive safety training, equipment and procedures. Support services are available for employees who experience abuse, and NEPP collaborates with staff and the police to pursue successful prosecutions. A recent example is the 12-month suspended sentence given to an individual who racially attacked a CEO in Colchester.

Cllr Paul Honeywood, chair of NEPP, said: “Our CEOs play a vital role in keeping our roads safe, clear and accessible for everyone. The abuse they face is deeply troubling and completely unacceptable. This national pilot campaign is a vital step in protecting our staff, fostering public understanding of their invaluable role and promoting a culture of respect.”

NEPP is piloting the Beyond the Uniform campaign in Harlow, where parking patrol staff have experienced the highest levels of abuse in recent years.

Brighton & Hove City Council

The jury of the PATROL Driving Improvement Awards were impressed by Brighton & Hove City Council and NEPP’s entries, which both set out a case for educating the public about the staff involved in parking enforcement in order to foster respect and empathy.

Launching its Beyond the Uniform campaign, Cllr Trevor Muten, cabinet member for transport, parking and public realm, said: “Parking officers are more than their uniforms – they are integral members of our community who work tirelessly to keep Brighton & Hove running smoothly. This campaign shines a light on their dedication and humanity, while calling for a shift in public attitudes. Abuse of any kind is unacceptable. We stand firmly with our officers in promoting respect and appreciation for the essential work they do.”

In addition to the posters, Brighton have produced a video featuring interviews with civil enforcement officers.

School run adversely effects air quality

Private school traffic linked to rise in NO2 levels and bus delays, reports Deniz

Huseyin

Driving pupils to and from private schools has a more adverse impact on air quality and bus reliability than state school traffic, according to new research.

The charity Solve the School Run found that nitrogen dioxide (NO2) levels increase by 16% during state school term times, but rise to 47% when private schools re-open after the holidays. There was also a rise in bus delays during private school term times.

The research focussed on Herne Hill and Dulwich in South London, but similar experiences have been reported in other areas of London including Hampstead, Wandsworth and Richmond as well as in Oxford, according to Solve the School Run.

Analysis is based on data from the Breathe London network, which is funded by Mayor Sadiq Khan and run by the Environmental Research Group at Imperial College London.

This looked at pollution levels from October 2023 to August 2024, comparing holidays and term times at private and state schools. Solve the School Run also examined bus journey times from Transport for London.

like staffed bike buses and school buses.”

School pupils in Herne Hill and Dulwich are exposed to considerably lower air pollution when walking to school during the private school holidays, the charity says. It suggests that during private school term times, state school pupils would have to walk to school at 5am to enjoy air as clean as during the private school holidays.

Nearly a quarter of pupils in London (24%) are driven to primary school every weekday, causing a major spike in congestion and air pollution, says Solve the School Run. This, it adds, equates to an extra 240,000 car trips on the roads during each of the morning and afternoon rush hours.

Solve the School Run is calling for measures including:

• Staffed walking lines and

‘bike buses’ to cater for working parents.

• Investment in school buses for primary pupils from private schools.

• School streets that have timed closures around drop off and pick up times.

• More cycle paths and storage facilities to support parents using cargo bikes.

Nicola Pastore, a data analytics consultant and co-founder of Solve the School Run, said: “The data is clear – we are all affected by the school run, whether we are bus passengers, dog-walkers or families on our way to school.

Solve The School Run wants to see better data on these journeys, much safer travel routes to schools for walking and cycling and parent-free travel options

Dedicated drop-off zone created for school

Professor Ben Barratt from the Environmental Research Group at Imperial College London said: “It’s really interesting to see higher levels of air pollution correlating so closely with term time. We know that road transport is an important cause of both nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter. We’re really pleased to see communities using their local data from Breathe London to shed light on causes of pollution in their neighbourhood and campaigning to reduce it.”

London’s Walking and Cycling Commissioner Will Norman said: “We know that the majority of children walk or cycle to school, and the Mayor and I are doing everything we can to encourage more Londoners to choose active and sustainable transport for shorter journeys.”

Research by Cllr Emily Kerr in Oxford found that up to 50% of congestion during the school run was caused by the city’s private schools. “Many pupils at private schools live further away than those at state schools, so these journeys can be harder for families to walk and cycle. One solution would be for private schools to invest in minibuses for all age-groups. These would provide a cost-effective and convenient alternative to driving for parents,” she said.

A new car park and drop-off zone has opened opposite the Waltham Toll Bar Academy in Lincolnshire.

The 54-space car park opened on land off Station Road on 20 January in response to parents’ concerns regarding the start and end of the school day.

North East Lincolnshire Council submitted the application for the car park, which also includes a motorcycle bay.

The land off Station Road is in council ownership. The project was agreed as part of a Section 106 agreement at the time planning permission for an adjoining housing development was approved.

The car park will be managed by North East Lincolnshire Council. It will be open from 7am until 6pm during term time with the free drop-off – using the ordinary bays as well as specific zone – restricted to 8am to 9am and 3pm to 4pm.

The site will be closed from 6pm with barriers, preventing evening and night-time entry. Outside of the free drop-off times, normal council parking charges will apply. These will be £1.50 for two hours and £2.50 for the full day.

Solve the School Run is calling for more School Streets that have timed closures around drop-off and pick up times

The Station Road car park

JON CORKEN

Tackling the problem of pedicabs

Transport

for London sets out plans to regulate pedicab riders

While pedicabs can provide a fun and green way to see parts of the capital, they are the only form of unregulated public transport in London. This has led to inconsistencies in the way services operate, with some customers being charged well-documented rip-off fares.

Transport for London (TfL) says there is a need to ensure any regulations prioritise the safety of passengers and pedestrians, and minimise fare issues, as well as anti-social behaviour caused by loud music and poor driving.

TfL is seeking views on several proposals, including that:

• all pedicab drivers would be required to have a one-year pedicab driver’s licence and would need to meet a set of safety standards such as criminal backgrounds checks

• drivers would need to demonstrate they understand their role and responsibilities

• drivers would be required to have appropriate insurance

• regular vehicle inspections would be required to check the condition of the vehicle to ensure it remains safe and roadworthy.

The regulations and licensing requirements for pedicabs would be similar to those that apply to taxis and private hire vehicles (PHVs), but tailored to the unique nature of the pedicab and the market they operate in. Currently, there is no consis-

tency to the way fares are charged for a pedicab journey so TfL is proposing to address this issue. This could include fares being set using a timebased, distance-based, or zonal structure

Some antisocial behaviour and noise offences are already covered by existing legislation. However, TfL is considering whether regulations and licensing requirements should address driver conduct such as playing loud music and causing distur-

bances. This would include potential restrictions on noise levels, particularly at certain times of the day.

The proposals would cover pedicabs carrying paying passengers and ‘party bikes’. Vehicles which are used to carry freight, other non-passenger carrying services, and those for personal use will not be covered by regulations from this consultation.

Walking and cycling commissioner Will Norman said: “Pedicabs should be a fun and sustainable way for people to see London but, without regulation, some drivers are behaving unsafely or anti-socially, and charging extortionate prices.”

Helen Chapman, TfL’s director of licensing and regulation, said: “Pedicabs are the only form of unregulated public transport in London and have an impact on the safety of the capital’s road network, as well as customers being charged well-documented rip-off fares, so we’re pleased to launch this consultation.

The consultation is open until 7 March 2025.

Police patrol Peak District due to obstructive parking Glasgow enforcing pavement ban

Obstructive parking by drivers visiting the Peak District led to Winnats Pass and Rushup Edge, near Castleton in Derbyshire, being shut by the police.

The closures on the snowy weekend of 11-12 January followed reports of about 200 parked cars blocking gritting lorries and emergency services faced problems trying to respond to an injured walker near Edale.

Derbyshire County Council gritters were unable to serve part of the route that covers Rushup Edge because of cars being double parked in the

area and on Mam Nick.

A council statement said:

“We realise that people want to enjoy the Peak District, but this level of parking is making the gritters’ job very difficult.”

Derbyshire Police said

penalties would be issued and dangerously parked vehicles could be towed. A police spokesperson added: “It is very simple, poor parking causes traffic issues that makes things very difficult for local people going about their day and, in the worst cases, can stop ambulances, fire engines and police vehicles being able to attend emergencies.

“We will be liaising with our colleagues in the relevant authorities for the area in coming days following this weekend’s issues.”

Derbyshire County Council said that the police dealt with parking issues. It used social media to state: “Many cars got tickets or were towed away.”

The Hope Valley police team said 21 drivers who had parked on the clearway through Winnats Pass would be prosecuted.

“Parking like this isn’t just an inconvenience, it blocks the way of ambulances and fire engines responding to potentially life and death emergencies,” a Derbyshire Police spokesperson said.

Drivers in Glasgow will now be fined £100 if they park on pavements on most streets in the city. The new penalties, which came into effect on 29 January, are designed to protect pedestrians, especially people in wheelchairs and those pushing buggies, who could be forced onto the road by inappropriate parking.

Initially warning notices were handed out as drivers adjust to the changes. All parking fines in Glasgow are £100, reduced to £50 if paid within 14 days.

Edinburgh was the first city in Scotland to enforce a ban on pavement parking in January 2024. London has had a ban in place since 1974.

Owners of cars parked on a clearway at Winnats Pass will be prosecuted

Hospitals have charged £1bn for parking

Liberal Democrats look into NHS parking, reports Deniz Huseyin

Patients, visitors and staff have paid more than £1bn in hospital parking charges over the past six years, according to new analysis by the Liberal Democrats.

This is despite the previous Conservative government’s 2019 manifesto pledge to “end unfair hospital car parking charges”, said the Lib Dems.

The research found that NHS trusts have received £1.15bn in parking charges since 2018/19. Of this, NHS staff have paid more than £300m, while patients and visitors have paid £847m.

Hospital car parking fees amounted to £243m in 2023/24, up from £192.5m the previous year. This amounts to an average of £665,000 a day in hospital car parking charges over the past year, the analysis shows.

It discovered that the NHS trust that has collected the most

in parking fees is University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire, with more than £37.3m, followed by University Hospitals Birmingham with £25.2m and Manchester University NHS Trust with £23.9m.

The Liberal Democrats said the parking revenues generated are a “tax on the sick” and called on the government to work with NHS trusts to reduce fees for visitors and staff. The party is

Digital driving licence unveiled

A mobile driver’s licence will be one of the first digital documents in a GOV.UK Wallet to be launched later this year and will ultimately allow people to prove their age from their phone in shops or online.

The digital phone version of the driver’s licence can also be used by people prove their age when buying age restricted items online and in person.

The government has also set out a blueprint for its plans to improve ways for people to interact with government digitally. The plan sees the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) becoming home to a revamped Government Digital Service (GDS).

The government sees digital

tools and data as way to transform public services and deliver a potential £45bn in efficiency savings.

The GOV.UK Wallet will allow users to securely store government-issued documents on their phone and use them easily when needed. The technology will make use of security features that are built into modern smart phones, including facial recognition checks similar to those used when people pay using a digital bank card. It means that digital documents will be more secure, even if a device is lost.

Science secretary Peter Kyle said that by the end of 2027, the GOV.UK Wallet will include documents like Veteran Cards, Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks and all other credentials issued by the government for those who choose to use them. Traditional physical documents will remain available.

It comes alongside a planned summer 2025 launch of a GOV.UK App designed to make it simpler to navigate the GOV.UK website, access government information and complete essential tasks from a smartphone.

calling for a dedicated ‘Visitors and Caring Fund’ to ensure that no one is “shelling out unfair sums” to visit their loved ones, and to support NHS staff with parking charges.

Liberal Democrat care spokesperson Alison Bennett MP said: “Patients and staff are being hit with a one billion bombshell of hospital car parking charges. This is an unfair tax on the sick and on hardworking NHS staff and it has to

stop. It cannot be right that nurses have to pay through the nose to get to work or that patients are subjected to skyhigh fees to get treatment they desperately need.

“The Conservatives promised to crack down on unfair hospital car parking charges but failed miserably. The new government must now work urgently to stamp out these unfair fees and back our calls for a new Visitors and Caring Fund.”

Green Badge for people in recovery

People who are experiencing restricted mobility on a temporary basis due to illness or injury will be able to apply for a new ‘Green Badge’ scheme in North Lincolnshire to park closer to destinations.

Just like the Blue Badge, Green Badge holders can park in disabled bays for free across North Lincolnshire car parks.

The Green Badge will be valid for 10 weeks from the date of issue and will need to be displayed when parking in a disabled bay.

The Green Badge scheme is now live meaning people in North Lincolnshire who are experiencing restricted mobility on a temporary basis due to illness or injury can apply for a parking permit.

Permit holders can park in disabled bays for free across North Lincolnshire Council car parks to access services, goods and facilities more easily and can be used for up to three hours for designated disabled bays on street parking.

Applications will need supporting medical evidence from a GP or healthcare professional detailing the illness or injury that is causing mobility issues.

Depending on circumstances, the Green Badge could be extended after the 10-week period, which would require another application and updated supporting medical evidence.

Cllr Carl Sherwood, cabinet member for community wellbeing (rural), said: “I am delighted that the Green Badge scheme is now up and running to support residents in North Lincolnshire who are having temporary mobility issues whilst recovering from an illness or injury.

“We are among the first in the country to develop such a scheme and it will make a real difference in helping people stay independent, safe and well, living in their own home and community.”

Cllr Elaine Marper, cabinet member for transforming the customer journey, said: “We are committed to providing the best access and support to all our facilities.

“We often get people contacting us about Blue Badges because they are having mobility problems but don’t fit the criteria for a Blue Badge. The Green Badge now bridges that gap.”

TRY US FOR FREE

We will provide free Tap2Park payment signs for all new locations. Works with any existing cashless services on-site, providing customer choice! Plus we are already integrated with all leading parking enforcement software - So we ready to go!

Policing the parking code

Parking associations launch panel to oversee joint private sector code

The UK’s two parking associations have launched a scrutiny panel to oversee the joint code of practice they have published for the private parking sector.

The Private Parking Scrutiny and Advice Panel has been created by the British Parking Association (BPA) and the International Parking Community (IPC). These organisations run rival approved operator schemes via which companies operating parking on private land can access DVLA vehicle keeper data when seeking to collect parking charge notices issued for non-compliance with terms and conditions. However, last year the associations worked together to harmonise their codes of practice to provide a more consistent experience for drivers.

The Private Parking Scrutiny and Advice Panel (PPSAP) aims to provide an impartial oversight mechanism to ensure the new Private Parking Sector Single Code of Practice raises standards for consumers. It will also fast-track updates to the code to reflect technological advancements and to better protect consumers.

The BPA and IPC state that the purpose of the PPSAP is to:

• monitor and measure the application and success of the Private Parking Sector Single Code of Practice

• give operational guidance as to enable consistent application of the code across the whole sector

• review and develop the code to drive further consistency and improved standards for consumers and parking operators and service providers alike

• design, develop and deploy a consistent scheme of sanctions to underpin responsible, reasonable and rational application of the code

• monitor the deployment of the scheme of sanctions by the respective DVLA Accredited Trade Associations to ensure consistency in its application

• provide transparency on the oversight of the sector and increase

confidence in the sector by stakeholders including government and consumers

• monitor consistency of decisions made by independent adjudicators.

The BPA and IPC will have two places each on the panel, which will be chaired by an individual who is independent from the sector. The panel’s first major action will be a revision to the code that protects motorists who have difficulty making prompt payment on entry to a car park.

The panel will review the recent media discussion around a case where a motorist was being taken to court after taking longer than five minutes to pay for parking, this has been dubbed the ‘5-minute payment rule’. The association’s says the reform will come into effect during February 2025. As well as addressing the ‘5-minute payment rule’, the PPSAP will:

• regularly review and enhance the code to improve standards for motorists and operators

• monitor decisions made by independent adjudicators for consistency

• develop and enforce a consistent scheme of sanctions to ensure fair application of the code

• engage with consumer groups and government for a full code review by April 2025

• regularly meet with consumer groups to hear motorists voice and concerns.

The BPA and IPC say the private parking sector does act fairly. They cite current data indicating that over 99.77% of parking events are compliant and free from dispute. However, the associations anticipate the panel will build further trust and transparency in the system with elevated standards.

Parking operators can issue parking charge notices on private land

Will Hurley, chief executive of the International Parking Community, emphasised the significance of this move: “The creation of the panel shows the commitment the industry has to improving the reputation of our sector. We must not forget the valuable service we provide to ensure the vast majority of people can park when and where they need to.”

Andrew Pester, chief executive of the British Parking Association added: “The formation of this panel is an important step in delivering consistency to the oversight of the Private Parking Sector Single Code of Practice. We want to demonstrate that not only are we serious about raising standards but also making decisive changes to the code when issues arise.”

A Private Members’ Bill to introduce a government-backed code of practice for private parking companies and an independent appeals service for motorists received Royal Assent as the Parking (Code of Practice) Act 2019. The official code that was produced included a £50 cap on most fines, a grace period for lateness and a fairer appeals system. However, the government’s code was withdrawn in June 2022 after a legal challenge by parking companies. Plans to launch the new independent adjudication service have also been put on hold.

In June 2024, the BPA and IPC worked together to publish their own single code of practice, which is what will be overseen by the new panel. While they have cooperated on publishing a joint code and creating the scrutiny panel, the BPA and IPC continue to operate their own appeals services.

The government is expected to make an announcement on plans for a parking code of practice in the near future. A Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government spokesperson said: “Motorists must be protected when using private car parks and we are determined to drive up standards in the industry. We know how much of an issue this is for drivers, which is why we will set out further details on the private parking code of practice as soon as possible.”

The ‘5-minute payment rule’

Drivers want an official code

RAC asks motorists for views on private parking

Drivers are frustrated that the Private Sector Parking Code of Practice is still not in force five years after an act of parliament was passed to clamp down on rogue operators, says the RAC. Eight-in10 drivers (84%) questioned by the RAC say it is not right that, due to legal challenges from private parking operators and debt recovery companies, the official code still has not been introduced.

Asked if private parking firms treat those who contravene parking rules fairly, only 2% of respondents agreed. Similarly, just 3% agreed with the statement ‘private parking companies charge a fair price and operate reasonably’. More than half (55%) of those surveyed felt private parking companies’ enforcement policies were too heavy-handed, with 40% saying there is no justification whatsoever for the way they enforce their rules. Almost eight-in-10 (78%) believe private parking companies are only interested in making money from drivers. A fifth (18%), however, felt private parking operators were necessary to stop a parking free-for-all.

When questioned about the costs of parking charge notices (PCNs) issued by operators, nearly two-thirds (65%) say they understand fines were necessary but that they are excessive or disproportionate to the parking contraventions.

While the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government is working to finally introduce the government-backed Private Parking Code of Practice, the two major private parking trade bodies – the British Parking Association and the International Parking Community – launched their own code.

In its survey of 1,847 drivers, the RAC found nine-in-10 (87%) don’t trust the private parking industry’s code to be fair to drivers. When introduced, the RAC says the official Private Parking Code of Practice should put a cap on parking charge notice amounts, a cap on debt recovery fees and provide a single independent appeals service for drivers to use should they feel a private parking company has wrongly rejected an appeal. It will also force operators to follow a code of conduct, with those that do not potentially losing the right to operate. The rules firms will have to follow include a robust appeals process, a means of identifying vulnerable customers, issuing parking charge notices lawfully and not misleading drivers, providing photographic evidence of contraventions, not engaging debt recovery companies too soon, providing clear signage and terms and conditions that are easy to understand.

The existence of a what has been dubbed the ‘5-minute payment rule’ was originally reported by the BBC. The issue came to light when motorist Rosey Hudson was taken to court last year after accumulating £1,906 in parking charge notices for taking more than five minutes to pay for using the Copeland Street car park in Derby.

Hudson was issued 10 PCNs over the course of several days by Excel Parking Services after walking away from her vehicle in order to find phone reception so she could use an app to pay for a space. Each of the nine outstanding PCNs was for £100, but amount has increased to £1,905.76 because Excel Parking added an extra £70 debt recovery charge to each charge, interest of 8% per annum, a £115 court fee, and £80 costs for a legal representative.

However, in December, Excel dropped its case against Hudson. Excel has declined BBC requests for an interview, but via email said that while it cancelled the PCNs issued to Rosie Hudson, Excel Parking said it feels the motorist was in error, writing: “Miss Hudson did not comply with the specified terms and conditions for parking at the Copeland Street car park as she purchased the parking tariffs well beyond the required timescale.”

When asked about the visibility of private parking signage – that which explains the charges drivers must pay when parking on private land, along with terms and conditions – a quarter (27%) of those surveyed said they didn’t see the signage indicating charges. Just over a third (35%) said they saw and read it, while almost fourin-10 (38%) admitted they saw it but didn’t read it. Among those who read the signs, nearly eight-in-10 (76%) had issues with seeing or understanding signs, with only a fifth (20%) saying the terms and conditions were both clear to see and easy to understand.

RAC head of policy Simon Williams said: “It’s blatantly apparent from our research that drivers continue to have severe misgivings about the way private parking companies operate and are therefore very frustrated that the official government-backed code of practice has still not been introduced more than five years after it became law. While this lack of trust may be partly addressed by the launch of the industry’s own code of practice, we suspect it’s unlikely to be enough as it’s not worded to be in the interest of drivers and, crucially, isn’t backed by law. We feel only the introduction of the real, government-backed code will bring much-needed fairness to the entire private parking sector. We badly need an acceptable cap on parking charge notices, along with a cap on debt recovery fees as, in our opinion, both are disproportionate to most parking contraventions. Finally, a truly independent single appeals system is needed for those who feel their initial appeal to the company concerned has not been listened to.”

Rosey Hudson

BBC

Wednesday 5 March 2025

Civic Centre, Barras Bridge, Haymarket, Newcastle upon Tyne

Positive Parking: Driving Economic Growth and Strengthening Communities

The North East Parking Show is the region’s premier conference and exhibition. This year the event’s focus is on the role of parking in supporting local communities and stimulating economic growth.

Hosted by Newcastle City Council, this event brings together parking professionals, facility managers, local authorities and industry leaders to explore how parking can be a positive enabler.

Key themes

Parking Management in Key Sectors

This session will be focused on best practices and challenges associated with managing parking at hospitals, shopping centres, and university campuses. The session will include insights and solutions that ensure efficient, user-friendly parking experiences in high demand sectors.

How Can Parking Drive the Economy?

Parking solutions can drive economic growth, from revitalising high streets to supporting business districts. The session will feature real world examples and strategies that highlight the role parking in supporting economic activities, increasing footfall and sustaining local commerce.

Delivering a Positive Parking Experience

A positive parking experience is one defined in terms of service rather than enforcement. The panel will

discuss the benefits of providing safer car parks, seamless parking transactions, pre-booked sessions and value added services.

Parking in the Community

Exploring how parking can enhance community wellbeing, this session will focus on inclusive, sustainable, and accessible parking practices that contribute to vibrant communities. It will discuss community focussed parking initiatives that prioritise access, equity and support including projects to help the homeless into jobs within the sector.

Protecting Front Line Sta昀

Civil enforcement officers, parking attendants and other public-facing sta昀 face aggression on a daily basis. What can the parking sector do to better support its people and to send a strong message to o昀enders that antisocial behaviour will not be tolerated?

Speakers

Confirmed speakers and panellists include:

l Sarah Baxter, democratic services and policy manager, PATROL

l Patrick Duckworth, communications lead, PATROL

l Steven Foster, team manager, Parking Services, Newcastle City Council

l Elizabeth Gilliard, consultant, First Rail Consultancy, and Vice President Chartered Institute of Logistics (CILT)

l David Hall, assistant director city operations, Newcastle City Council

l Alexandra Hobbs, manager, South Tyneside Council

l Carole Kenney, director, welfare, road traffic & road user charging, CDER Group

l Vikki Main, manager, Parking Services, Gateshead Council

l Paolo Orezzi, service director, NSL

l Anjna Patel MBE, principal officer, Sandwell Council

l Andrew Potter, director, Parking Perspectives

l Lynn Ryan, service manager, parking, Newcastle City Council

l Chris Wade, director, People & Places

l Richard Walker, president, BPA, and head of parking, North East Parking Partnership

l Guy Watson, managing director, Apex Parking

Book now

Private Sector

1st delegate from your organisation

Each additional delegate

Academics and Charities

£245 + VAT

£195 + VAT

£195 + VAT

Local Authorities have free attendance for the first 2 attendees from their organisation, then each further delegate is charged at the ‘Additional delegate’ rate

Exhibiting opportunities

The exhibition area will showcase leading industry solutions, products, and services aimed at optimising parking management, improving user experience, and supporting sustainable urban mobility.

To discuss exhibiting opportunities at the North East Parking Show, contact Jason Conboy on: 020 7091 7895

Exhibitors include:

Parking Show Social

The event will kick o昀 on the evening of 4 March with an informal networking reception which is open to all delegates. The following day will see dynamic conference sessions and an engaging exhibition.

Unity5 announces Wilson as new chief exec

Herbert becomes vice chair and interim chief technology officer

David Herbert is to step down from his current role as chief executive officer of parking technology services provider Unity5 at the end of the financial year, 31 March 2025.

Mark Wilson, currently serving as chief commercial officer, will assume the role of chief executive, taking over the day-to-day operations.

Herbert, who co-founded Unity5 in 2010 with Lukasz Kieruczenko, will remain actively involved in the company as vice chairman and acting chief technology officer (CTO). His continued presence is designed to ensure a seamless transition while enabling him to focus on driving the company’s technological innovation.

Kieruczenko will continue as chief innovation officer.

The leadership change follows a period of sustained growth for Unity5 and a successful round of investment that was completed in 2022 with growth investor, Synova.

Mark Wilson joined Unity5 in

July 2023 as chief commercial officer. In this role, he has been instrumental in the delivery of improved levels of customer service while supporting the company’s growth and expanding customer base.

With a nearly 30 year background in the technology sector, Wilson has experience in delivering software and services across various industries.

Wilson began his career as an engineer, implementing product

EasyPark closes Flowbird deal

Cashless payments specialist EasyPark Group has closed is acquisition of parking systems provider Flowbird Group.

EasyPark Group is a provider of digital parking and mobility solutions and is the parent company of RingGo.

Flowbird’s brands include online parking platform YourParkingSpace.

Cameron Clayton, current chief executive of EasyPark Group, has been appointed as the chief executive of the new joint company.

Clayton said: “Today marks a step toward improving space utilisation worldwide as EasyPark Group and Flowbird come together as one team. Our broader set of offerings will empower our customers to optimise mobility and reinvest in public transportation, greenspaces and the revitalisation of urban centres. I invite cities, transportation authorities and organisations across the mobility industry to join us on this journey. Together, we’ll make cities more liveable.

“The acquisition uniquely

positions the joint company to future-proof cities with smart parking and transportation solutions. Through a localised approach, the company will meet each city’s needs with a complementary mix of mobile paid parking, pay-and-display machines, public transport solutions, accompanied by suitable pricing, parking policies, data and insights.”

Frédéric Beylier, current CEO of Flowbird Group, is leaving the company. He said: “This acquisition marks an exciting chapter for mobility, unlocking new possibilities and the potential to create value for people, customers, partners, and municipalities. As I step aside after a thrilling growth journey with the Flowbird teams, I’m confident that the future of the joint company holds more promising adventures and successes with its talented and dedicated people.”

The joint company will be owned by Vitruvian Partners, Verdane and Searchlight Capital Partners. The parties have agreed not to disclose the terms of the transaction.

data management systems for Siemens and working with clients nationally and internationally. His career progression within Siemens saw him promoted to vice president for professional services across Europe.

He later transitioned to leadership roles in software as a service (SaaS) and enterprise business systems, holding senior positions at multiple international technology companies.

Most recently, Wilson served

as chief operating officer at Tribal Group, an ‘EdTech’ software and SaaS company serving universities and further education organisations.

Herbert said: “Mark’s extensive experience and customerfocussed approach make him the ideal leader to take Unity5 forward. This transition is a natural next step for the company, ensuring that our strong momentum continues while maintaining the innovative spirit that has defined Unity5 since its inception.”

Wilson said: “I am honoured to take on this role and lead Unity5 into its next chapter. Dave and Lukasz have built an incredible company, and I look forward to building on their considerable achievements, ensuring we continue to deliver exceptional solutions for our customers while driving further growth and success.”

Richard Houghton, chairman of Unity5, added: “Mark is an exceptional leader with a proven track record in the technology sector. His vision and experience will drive Unity5 to even greater success, and I look forward to working with him in his new role.”

JustPark launches in the USA

UK cashless parking provider JustPark has announced its expansion into the United States of America with a contract at the University of Hawaii.

This marks JustPark’s first venture into North America following its 2024 merger with the North American parking solutions provider ParkHub.

The University of Hawaii at Manoa has adopted JustPark’s app-based parking system, replacing traditional pay stations for visitor parking with a cashless solution as part of a campus-wide technology upgrade.

Anthony Eskinazi, founder of JustPark, said: “Our expansion into the US marks an exciting new chapter for JustPark. The UK remains our heartland, where we’ve pioneered smarter, user-friendly parking solutions for millions of drivers and businesses.

“Now, we’re bringing our proven technology to North America, starting with the

University of Hawaii. This partnership demonstrates our global ambitions and underlines our commitment to delivering exceptional and stress-free parking experiences wherever drivers need them.”

Founded in 2006, JustPark turned underutilised spaces into revenue-generating opportunities by creating an online marketplace that enabled drivers to book bays.

To date, JustPark claims to have facilitated over £300m in parking transactions.

The company’s merger with ParkHub in April last year created an entity serving 20 million drivers and over 500 business-to-business customers globally, facilitating more than $1 billion in annual transactions.

JustPark’s is also enhancing its UK offering, implementing new products to support its car park partners, including EventPass, a solution designed to optimise parking operations at events and venues.

Mark Wilson

PayByPhone names Cashel as COO

Mobile parking payments provider PayByPhone has appointed Anthony Cashel as chief operating officer (COO), a newly created role.

The new role, effective 1 January 2025, comes as the company separates its commercial and operational functions.

In line with this, Cashel’s new COO role sees him become responsible globally for marketing, implementations, technical operations, client and customer support, and partnerships.

Jonny Combe, PayByPhone chief executive officer, said: “At PayByPhone, we are dedicated to simplifying our users’ journeys. Part of that dedication means we must be a nimble organisation, continuously taking stock and self-assessing. Creating a chief operating officer role fully underpins our restructure as we separate commercial and operational functions. Anthony’s

deep understanding of the commercial side of our business, coupled with his strengths in partnerships and process optimisation make him ideally suited for the role. I am already looking forward to seeing the positive impact he and the teams reporting into him will achieve.”

Cashel, who has been chief client officer since 2022, will continue to sit on the PayByPhone management board and report to Combe.

Cashel said: “I am delighted

to be taking on this newly created role and am already looking at how we can optimise our operational excellence, enhance our processes and build new partnerships so that we can be future-fit as we continue to grow.”

The commercial business is led by PayByPhone’s three regional managing directors, including the UK managing director Adam Dolphin. This activity will be headed up by Jonny Combe.

Burton makes a wise move

Lee Burton has joined ANPR camera specialist Wise Parking as a director. Wise Parking was founded in 2021 by Stuart Cole, who wanted to make parking management easy, flexible, and affordable for landowners. Based in the Midlands, the company supports car parks nationwide.

Burton was previously managing director of payment systems provider HUB Parking Technology. His replacement at HUB is Chris Hawkins.

• Civil Enforcement Officers

• Environmental Enforcement Officers

We currently supply and have vacancies around the UK for Permanent and Temporary positions:

• Parking Back Office (Appeals/Notice Processing/Correspondence)

• Parking Change Management

• Interim Parking Managers

• Car Park Attendants/Marshalls/Stewarding

• Parking Supervisors (Both Enforcement and Back Office)

• Parking Management (Both Enforcement and Back Office)

• Heads of Parking/Directors

• Parking Technologies (Business Development and Project Managers/ Field Service Engineers/General Managers)

• Off Street Parking (Business Development, Contract Managers and Regional Managers)

• CCTV Operators – SIA and BTEC qualified

Looking for staff or need employment? Please contact our experienced team on:

Tel: 0203 668 5680

Email: parking@unity-recruitment.co.uk

Web: www.unity-recruitment.co.uk

Lee Burton and Stuart Cole

Anthony Cashel

Parking predictions

Parking is moving towards being a more integrated and user-friendly experience, says RingGo’s Peter O’Driscoll

From connecting parking policies with wider transport planning to embracing the innovations of a digital world, the parking industry is on course for significant change in 2025. Cities and streets are evolving, and the ambition for urban mobility to become more digital is putting a big emphasis on greater integration and standardisation.

In 2025, we predict that the biggest themes in the UK will focus on improving efficiency, reducing congestion and tackling emissions. How will the parking industry use dynamic pricing to support sustainability goals? How will parking apps become a one-stop shop for users? From the integration of digital and hardware solutions to the ‘Open Market’ in parking and what it means for drivers, here are five predictions for the year ahead.

Increased consolidation and expansion

Parking apps will become a one-stop shop for motorists, while operators continue to set their sights on expansion in terms of vehicle-related services and new markets.

It is already possible to book a plane, train, coach and car hire from the same tool, and this joined-up approach is expected to be adopted by mobility and parking services, with apps set to become a one-stop shop for users.

As parking systems strategically consolidate, there is greater choice for motorists with more hardware and digital solutions impacting the use of ticket vending and validations. Other vehicle-related services, such as paying for fuel or EV charging, will become more commonplace as providers like RingGo draw on their international experience and bring new innovations to the UK.

UK-based parking operators are increasingly setting their sights on expansion, not only from a services point of view but also geographically, capitalising on their expertise and technology to tap into new markets overseas.

This outward expansion by UK operators reflects a growing trend of cross-border collaboration and knowledge sharing within the European parking industry. For example, Interparking made a major move by acquiring Saba to expand its operations across Spain and Portugal, and Smart Parking and ParkingEye are following by actively seeking opportunities to deploy their systems in European cities, aiming to improve parking efficiency and reduce congestion.

Growth of emissions and weight-based parking charges

In 2025, to support sustainability goals, emissions-based parking charges in the UK are set to evolve, with weight emerging as a new key factor affecting the amount charged. Another idea under consideration is a dynamic pricing model based on air pollution levels.

There is already a growing adoption of emissions-based charges by cities, driven by concerns over increasing car sizes, which contribute to congestion and road safety risks. Electric vehicles (EVs) typically weigh 20% more than petrol vehicles, and in recent years, cars in the EU and UK have grown 1 cm wider every two years, due to new EV models and luxury SUVs.

As vehicles grow larger, local authorities are exploring new ways to regulate their impact on roads and safety. For example, Islington Council already levies charges based on vehicle weight for parking permits. The UK is the second-largest EV market in Europe, and with 300,000 new battery electric vehicles (BEVs) on our roads, the integration of weight considerations could align with wider sustainability goals.

Dynamic pricing is used in many other industries, including travel and ticketing. For parking, this model could mean that motorists travelling through and parking in areas of poor air quality would be charged more.

Parking apps will become a one-stop shop for motorists

During 2025 we will see a shift in standardising the parking experience for motorists and a greater focus on dynamic pricing and emissions-based charges to create more liveable towns and cities

Peter O’Driscoll

These solutions could offer a unique opportunity for parking apps like RingGo, which was the first service provider to introduce emissions-based charges. As councils adopt more nuanced parking fees, these platforms could become a one-stop shop for EV drivers, simplifying compliance and supporting greener, safer and more liveable cities.

Tackling congestion through policy and public transport

Some councils are already introducing measures to reduce congestion, and there is increasing pressure to connect parking policies with wider transport planning.

Although a significant mobility shift is not expected in 2025, there could be a subtle change in transport habits. With the new bus fare cap of £3, many motorists may reconsider their reliance on cars in favour of public transport, especially for short trips, helping to reduce transport-related emissions while easing traffic.

As well as investment in public transport, the growing issue of road congestion demands stronger measures, including more double yellow lines, more substantial fines and greater public awareness of the implications of congestion. In 2024, Edinburgh City Council introduced a parking pavement ban to improve the flow of traffic and road safety. As a result, complaints about pavement parking halved in just three months.

Initiatives like these require more communication between parking and highway systems. Low traffic neighbourhoods (LTNs) have highlighted the frustrations of poor communication and slow or non-existent feedback loops, which can hinder the success of such measures. For these reasons, there is increasing pressure to connect parking policies with wider transport planning to ensure that vehicles are efficiently managed outside city parking zones, helping to reduce urban clutter. Ultimately, less congestion means safer, more liveable towns and cities.

The ongoing journey towards the parking Open Market

The ‘Open Market’ in parking will revolutionise the way that parking services are delivered, creating a big shift in mobility that unleashes competition and drives innovation.

2025 is set to be an exciting year, with the National Parking Platform (NPP) expected to move from its trial phase to a fullscale national roll out.

The NPP will provide the foundation for an Open Market for parking, creating a UK-wide infrastructure for parking payments that enables multiple parking apps to operate alongside each other.

The NPP will allow drivers across the UK to use their preferred app wherever they park, providing greater choice, flexibility and convenience. At the same time, local authorities and private operators will benefit from lower implementation and operating costs and greater resilience.

An NPP pilot scheme is already in operation across 10 local authorities, with different services and charges offered by different providers. (Some parking apps do not apply a convenience fee, while others charge 10p-20p per transaction.) As a result, drivers can choose the parking app that best suits their needs: quality of service, user experience, unique features or value.

By bringing hundreds of parking sites into one system, which connects to the apps and payment methods motorists already use, the NPP means:

• Motorists can pay for parking using their favourite app in any town or city

• Parking operators can benefit from cost savings, greater efficiency and no tender process, where applicable

• Service providers can offer better apps and value-added services

• Towns and cities can access richer parking data to support local policymaking.

As we move towards an Open Market for parking, providers like RingGo are driving change for motorists across the UK.

Improved integration and standardisation

Greater collaboration and consistency across parking systems will bring significant benefits in terms of efficiency, user experience and sustainability.

To give motorists a better parking experience and ensure our cities remain liveable, we need to strike a balance between fostering a healthy environment and efficient road management.

In 2025, there needs to be stronger cooperation between owners of gated off-parking sites – such as local authorities, private operators and businesses – and innovative parking solutions like RingGo to integrate their parking systems.

Consistency between the way private and public car parks are enforced will become the norm, for example, mirroring the grace period granted to drivers before a charge is imposed for overstaying to offer a fair and standardised experience. While this legislation does not bind private land, many operators have already adopted a voluntary code of practice in anticipation of government standardisation and new policies in 2025.

The future looks bright

In 2025, we will see a shift in standardising the parking experience for motorists, as well as a greater focus on dynamic pricing and emissions-based charges to create more liveable towns and cities.

The continued evolution of digital payment options will be driven by a UK-wide roll-out of the National Parking Platform. Following the successful pilot scheme, more local authorities have expressed interest in joining the initiative to offer greater choice and convenience to drivers and for rich data insights to inform decisions on parking infrastructure, traffic management and urban development.

As we move towards an Open Market, consolidation and better legislation, RingGo will continue to provide reliable parking solutions across the UK.

Peter O’Driscoll is managing director at RingGo ringgo.co.uk

The RAC seeks to understand drivers needs

What are drivers thinking?

The RAC Report on Motoring reveals driver concerns about road conditions and the transition to electric vehicles

The rising cost of parking is a major area of concern raised by motorists interviewed for motoring body RAC’s annual report. The survey reveals that cash is still king with drivers and that there is support for the introduction of a coherent ban on pavement parking. Meanwhile a perceived lack of charging points and worries about travelling on long journeys are two of the most common reasons given by drivers who have decided against opting for an electric vehicles the next time they change their vehicles.

The RAC Report on Motoring 2024 provides a detailed picture of drivers’ attitudes and opinions on important topics – from understanding the continuing role the car plays in so many people’s lives to the condition and maintenance of the UK’s roads and the behaviour of other road users.

This year, for the first time, a majority of drivers (56%) say that the condition and maintenance of local roads in the UK – those that councils are responsible for – is one of their top motoringrelated concerns, up sharply from the 49% recorded in 2023.

While the rate of consumer price inflation in the UK has dropped over the past 12 months, the report reveals drivers continue to face significant financial pressures, not least from high fuel prices and insurance costs. The sharp rises in insurance premiums throughout 2023 makes insuring a vehicle the second most widespread motoring concern in this year’s report, with the issue cited by 35% of drivers – a steep increase on the 20% recorded 12 months ago. And while worry about the cost of fuel has slipped back to some degree, with 32% of drivers saying this is a top concern this year, down from 42% in 2023, it still represents the third biggest issue on drivers’ minds.

The rising cost of vehicle repairs is also a major concern for drivers, especially given a majority have been faced with having to fork out for unexpected repair costs over the last 12 months. And when it comes to another essential motoring cost – parking –it’s clear just how much of a role cash still plays for many drivers. www.rac.co.uk/report-on-motoring

The cost of parking

How drivers prefer to pay for parking

The cost and availability of parking is a top concern for 12% of drivers in 2024, and 76% say the general parking charges they face have increased in the past 12 months, up from 71% in 2023. Meanwhile, 16% of drivers say they have deliberately avoided paying for parking in order to save money, including 20% of under-25s. Most drivers (65%) feel that parking is too expensive in their local high street, and 55% say they have been deterred from visiting their local town or city centre as a result.

The favoured method of payment for parking remains cash via a machine (40%), with 28% preferring to pay by card or contactless payment and 19% favouring a mobile app.

The over-65s have a clearer preference for cash (56%), while 44% of under-25s say they would rather pay by card or using contactless technology. Two-thirds of drivers (65%) think there should always be a cash payment option, while almost half (48%) say motorists should never be restricted solely to payment via a phone app.

From late 2024, the National Parking Platform (NPP) is being rolled out across the UK following a series of local pilot schemes. The service is designed to improve the parking experience by enabling drivers to pay for parking through a single smartphone app rather than having to download a variety of different ones for different locations. The NPP should also enable car parks to more easily communicate space availability and pricing to drivers.

Positive positions on pavement parking

Drivers’ support for pavement parking bans

Oppose

The RAC Report on Motoring 2024 also looked at wider attitudes to parking among the UK’s drivers in light of Scotland’s pavement parking ban introduced in December 2023. Seven-in-10 (71%) of drivers say they regularly see cars parked on pavements that are blocking space for other pavement users, and two-thirds (67%) believe the rest of the UK should follow Scotland’s example and outlaw the practice.

Support for such a policy is reasonably high across the UK, but highest in Scotland (81%) and Northern Ireland (75%), while it is backed by 69% of drivers based in Wales and 65% of those in England.

At present, the Welsh Government is consulting on a possible ban on pavement parking, while there have been no notable developments relating to a pavement parking ban in England since the government consulted on the matter in 2020. Finally, 73% of drivers say they regularly see other vehicles taking up more than one space in car parks, and 22% say they struggle to park near their home.

Will your next car be electric?

The RAC asked drivers about their buying decisions

Drivers’ choice of next vehicle

Only a relatively small proportion of drivers intend to replace their current vehicles in the short term. However, this year sees a slight rise in the likelihood of drivers opting for a petrol model for their next car and a drop in those planning to get a battery-electric vehicle.

The RAC Report on Motoring 2024 report has found that 37% of drivers have no plans at present to replace their current car, slightly less than the 39% in 2023 but higher than the 33% in 2020 and 2021, prior to the cost-of-living crisis. And in 2024, only 45% of drivers intend to change their vehicle in the next three years. Almost a third of drivers (31%) say the rising cost of living has prevented them from changing their vehicle sooner than they may have otherwise (down from 34% in 2023), whereas 15% blame economic conditions such as concerns over job security and 11% cite recent hikes in interest rates as a deterrent.

A perceived lack of charging points and worries about travelling on long journeys are two of the most common reasons given by drivers who have decided against opting for an electric vehicle (EV) next time they change their vehicles. While considerable sums are being invested in the UK’s EV charging network, some drivers may be questioning whether chargepoints are being rolled out quickly enough to meet expected demand.

The RAC Report on Motoring 2024 found that 79% of drivers who do not currently own an EV say they would not worry about local journeys in an EV but would be concerned about travelling longer distances. Two-thirds (67%) say they would only opt for an EV if they had a private driveway or garage where they could charge it. Seven-in-10 (68%) say they would be able to charge an EV at home, either because they have a driveway or garage, or a designated off-street parking space.

While the Conservative government delayed the ban on new petrol and diesel car sales to 2035, through the Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Mandate it committed to an annual increase in the proportion of new car sales that must be made up of EVs – in 2024, the mandated rate is 22%. Given the recent slowdown in private EV sales, it is clear that more needs to be done to promote EV uptake if sufficient progress is to be made.

The RAC is urging the new government to reintroduce a form of the plug-in car grant aimed at the more affordable end of the EV market, and supports calls to reduce the rate of VAT on public chargers to 5%, in line with the domestic electricity rate, to make charging significantly more affordable to those who cannot charge at home or who need to recharge on long journeys. Indeed, the 2024 report shows that most drivers (61%) think it is unfair that the lower 5% VAT rate on domestic electricity does not also apply to public chargepoints, where the full 20% rate is imposed.

Dave Hobday, RAC chief executive, said: “The pressure on household finances, perhaps together with the Conservative government’s decision to push back the end date for the sale of new petrol and diesel cars from 2030 to 2035, has led to a big drop in those that say their next car will be fully electric. Even though 22% of all the cars manufacturers sell this year have to be electric, the high upfront costs, along with continued concerns about range and charging, are undoubtedly holding people back from making the switch. And the change to 2035 has perhaps prompted drivers to say there’s still time for at least one more petrol car.”

The kerb can be more than just a place to leave vehicles; it has the potential to be a multi-functional asset that enhances urban mobility and supports sustainable living

Digital traffic orders: A smarter kerbside

Increasing

demand from various road users is leading local authorities to rethink how this space is managed, says Gonzalo Martinez Santos of Arcadis

The kerbside is one of the most dynamic and soughtafter urban spaces, playing a crucial role in cities’ traffic infrastructure and operations. Traditionally, the kerb has been reserved primarily for parking, a practice that has shaped much of its usage over time. However, the increasing demand from various road users – from delivery drivers and cyclists to ride-hailing services – has led local authorities across the UK to rethink how this space is managed.

Cities are beginning to realise that the kerb can be more than just a place to leave vehicles; it has the potential to be a multifunctional asset that enhances urban mobility and supports sustainable living.

For example, many urban areas are now opting for wider pavements that benefit pedestrians or creating designated pick-up and drop-off zones near local businesses and restaurants. These adjustments not only reduce congestion but also encourage the local economy by making it easier for people to access shops and services.

In highly concentrated cities like London, cycle lanes have become an essential component of the kerbside transformation. Protected cycle lanes facilitate both cross-city trips and local journeys, boosting safety and making sustainable modes of transport more appealing. Some boroughs are even repurposing secondary streets into bike corridors, which is a very economical way for local authorities to achieve the same outcome.

These changes often require a reappropriation of kerb space, and while removing parking spots might seem like a revenue loss for local authorities, smart kerbside reallocation leads to significant social and economic benefits. The creation of vibrant community spaces, such as outdoor dining areas or pedestrian-friendly zones, contribute to a lively urban environment. Restaurants, shops, and other businesses thrive in these reimagined spaces, generating new revenue streams that often surpass the losses caused by reducing parking availability.

Digital Traffic Regulation Orders

Efficient kerbside management starts with having accurate and accessible data, and centralising Traffic Regulation Orders (TROs) is the first step in this process.

TROs, which regulate everything from parking restrictions to the use of cycle lanes, have historically been difficult to access and manage. However, the Department for Transport (DfT) has recognised this challenge and is now focussed on pushing towards the digitisation of these essential records, a transformation accel-

Access to accurate and real-time kerbside data is crucial for drivers, delivery services, and mobility providers, helping them make more efficient decisions and reduce congestion

Gonzalo Martinez Santos

erated by the passage of the Automated Vehicles Act in May 2024. This act mandates that all TROs must be digitised into a standardised format, known as Digital TROs (D-TROs), to enhance transparency and ensure data accessibility.

Local authorities often manage TROs through separate processes and systems, creating inefficiencies and miscommunication across internal teams. Different departments within councils may have conflicting versions of the data, leading to delays and errors in implementing kerbside regulations. By centralising these records, authorities can streamline processes, reduce administrative costs, and respond more quickly to public consultations or changes in street infrastructure.

The benefits of D-TROs go beyond merely improving administrative efficiency. When combined with data from other sources –such as parking meters, cameras, sensors, and mobility platforms – cities gain a comprehensive view of kerbside demand. This allows them to make informed, data-driven decisions on how best to allocate space.

For example, real-time information from electric vehicle charging points (EVCI) or mobility assets like bike racks and e-scooter zones can help local authorities plan kerbside usage based on actual demand, rather than outdated assumptions. A centralised digital platform allows local authorities to efficiently tackle kerbside challenges, such as optimising the rollout of EV charging points across a borough or identifying strategic locations for new bikeshare stations.

Furthermore, integrating data on off-street parking, low-emission zones, and pedestrian areas gives authorities the insights they need to repurpose kerbside space for higher social value. This could include extending pedestrian zones or adding more electric vehicle charging infrastructure, all while considering how these changes will affect traditional parking revenue. By leveraging digital tools, cities can balance the need for parking with the desire to create more sustainable, vibrant, and accessible public spaces.

How digital TROs benefit road users

While digital TROs provide clear advantages for local authorities, they also benefit a wide range of other stakeholders. Access to accurate and real-time kerbside data is crucial for drivers, delivery services, and mobility providers, helping them make more efficient decisions and reduce congestion.

Drivers, for example, can use this data to find parking spots that align with their intended length of stay, or to locate available EV charging points that meet their specific electrical needs. This reduces the time spent searching for parking and helps alleviate congestion in busy areas.

Delivery companies can optimise their routes based on realtime kerbside availability, ensuring that they have access to convenient loading zones and avoiding illegal parking, which often leads to fines and traffic delays. Ride-hailing services can use kerbside data to identify the best locations for passenger pick-up and drop-off, ensuring smoother traffic flow in congested urban areas.

As cities continue to digitise their kerbside infrastructure, these benefits will become even more apparent. Comprehensive street policy datasets can help predict kerbside demand based on historical data, allowing for dynamic tariffs or usage policies that

adapt to changing conditions in real-time. This would not only make kerbside management more efficient but also enable cities to respond to unexpected surges in demand, such as during major events or holidays.

Digital solutions for kerbside and TRO management

To support these kerbside transformations, cities need robust digital solutions that centralise and integrate data from multiple sources. One example of such technologies is CurbIQ, a digital kerbside management solution developed by the parking and kerbside experts at Arcadis, which allows local authorities to efficiently manage TROs and kerbside assets by consolidating all relevant data – whether it’s from parking meters, mobility providers, or off-street parking facilities – into a single, accessible platform. This makes it easier for local authority planners to propose changes, conduct public consultations, and implement new regulations without the administrative burden traditionally associated with TRO management.

Dublin is one city that has adopted a digital approach to kerbside management. By using comprehensive digital mapping tools, the council has been able to manage its kerb policies more effectively, optimising space allocation and improving accessibility.

This model of centralised, digital management is becoming increasingly popular as cities across the UK and beyond look for ways to better manage their urban spaces while reducing traffic congestion and improving mobility.

Embracing the digital future

Efficient kerbside management is no longer just about allocating parking spaces – it’s about understanding the full picture of urban mobility and how the kerb can be enhanced.

By digitising TROs, integrating real-time data, and adopting flexible, innovative digital solutions, cities can transform their kerbside spaces into dynamic assets that reduce congestion, promote sustainability, and revitalise local communities. The future of urban mobility depends on making these changes now, and local authorities that embrace a digital approach will be better equipped to meet the challenges of tomorrow.

A specialist in developing GIS visualisation and computational tools to shape and manage digital urban solutions, Gonzalo Martinez Santos is a product analyst at CurbIQ, Arcadis’s innovative kerbside and parking solution. A technical lead within the CurbIQ team, he oversees kerbside and Traffic Regulation Order digitisation projects, collaborating closely with cities and local authorities to help them transition to a digital future and implement smarter, more efficient urban mobility systems. www.arcadis.com

Gonzalo Martinez Santos

The multi-modal multi-storey

Dundee City Council hires McLaughlin & Harvey to convert Bell Street car park into green hub

The Bell Street multi-storey car park in Dundee is to be transformed into a sustainable transport hub. Proposals include providing electric vehicle charging points along with electric vehicle car club spaces, bike hire and storage for residents, students, businesses, commuters and visitors to the city centre.

The green transport hub project will also create enhanced walking and cycling links to the city centre, providing residents with access to sustainable transport options that improve connectivity and make the city centre greener, safer, and a more attractive place to live, work and visit.

The Green Transport Hub & Spokes initiative was allocated £14.4m from the previous UK government’s Levelling Up Fund. Some £1.6m for the main works comes from Transport Scotland’s Active Travel Infrastructure Fund.

Dundee City Council leader Mark Flynn said: “This project represents an ambitious redevelopment of the car park into a pioneering green transport hub which will make a significant contribution towards our goal of creating a greener city and cut down on carbon emissions. Following the majority of the funding being provided by the UK and Scottish governments, I welcome the opportunity to join the minister in seeing how the project is progressing.”

Dundee City Council has now approved an £11m tender for the main part of the initiative, following £4.5m of enabling works.

McLaughlin & Harvey has been awarded the

main construction works contract, having undertaken the enabling works.

The main works project, delivered as part of SCAPE Scotland’s framework, will include installing 350 electric vehicle charging points supported by the solar panel array on the roof, a battery storage system, car share spaces, and an e-bike hire service. When completed, the existing ground floor of the car park will be fully pedestrianised and include information points and meeting spaces.

Chris Boyle, framework director at McLaughlin & Harvey said: “We are delighted to continue our relationship with Dundee City Council at the new green transport hub. This project has harnessed collaborative engagement through the SCAPE framework to fast track the design and construction processes to deliver to the council’s objectives and timescales. The regeneration of the Bell Street area and re-purposing the existing car park into a 21st century sustainable transport

hub for the city centre will help deliver a greener city, providing active travel options for the communities of Dundee.”

Steven Rome, convener of fair work, economic growth and infrastructure, added: “This project represents an ambitious redevelopment of the car park into a pioneering green transport hub which is designed to help change people’s travel habits for the future. It will make a significant contribution towards our goal of creating a greener city made up of strong communities where people feel empowered and safe, and where we are tackling climate change to reach our target of net zero emissions by 2045.

“The hub will accommodate infrastructure to provide people with access to sustainable transport options that improve connectivity and make the city centre greener, safer, and a more attractive place to live, work and visit.”

The area surrounding the car park will include enhanced landscaping with active travel routes designed to accommodate future active travel connections and development.

UK local government minister Alex Norris MP visited Dundee to see how the project intends to aid people’s transition to sustainable forms of transport in the future.

Norris said: “It was a pleasure to be here in Dundee and to find out more about this ambitious project to create a green transport hub. Accelerating the journey to net zero is a key part of this government’s Plan for Change, and projects such as this are vital in helping us achieve this.”

How the reborn green transport hub will look Landscaping

CAR PARKS

Colchester to widen parking bays

St Mary’s and St John’s multi-storey car parks to be modernised

Colchester City Council is to undertake a major upgrade of parking facilities in Colchester city centre. The repairs will include widening parking bays to accommodate the larger size of modern vehicles.

Both the St Mary’s and St John’s car parks are to be refurbished. Tendering for the works will be completed in the coming weeks, with a view for works to start on-site in March.

The improvements will be phased to ensure minimal disruption, with finishing touches expected to be completed by Spring 2026. The works, which will cost approximately £1m, are pending full quotes.

The repairs will focus on maintaining the structure of the essential car parks to ensure a further ten-year lifespan.

Widening parking bays will help ensure that all spaces are fully utilised and provide drivers with the confidence to park with-

flexible and meet the needs of residents, businesses, and visitors.

Cllr Martin Goss, portfolio holder for neighbourhood services and waste, said: “With wider cars on the road, many of our city centre parking bays are underused simply because they are too narrow for modern vehicles.

out concern about fitting into tight spaces.

Once the repairs are made, updated payment systems, decorations, upgraded CCTV, and improved lighting will also enhance the drivers’ experience, alongside improvements to pedestrian areas. These upgrades are designed to provide added peace of mind and ensure a safe and welcoming environment,

Woking car park in need of repairs

The Victoria Way car park in Woking will close for the foreseeable future on Friday 14 February 2025, following a structural review that highlighted the need for significant repairs.

Woking Borough Council said the structural condition of the car park does not pose a risk to public safety but the detailed report recommends temporary closure until substantial repairs are undertaken.

The repairs would involve considerable costs and ongoing maintenance liabilities.

Before determining the longterm plan for the site, the council will work with consultants to evaluate the extent of repairs required, associated costs and future demand for parking in Woking town centre.

The council said the closure is not due to the presence of RAAC (Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete) within the structure.

Cllr Dale Roberts, deputy leader and portfolio holder for

finance and economy, said: “Victoria Way car park has been an important facility for many years, and while the structure remains safe, it is necessary to close the car park for the foreseeable future.

“The decision reflects a careful consideration of the car park’s condition and the associated implications of maintaining it.

“We are committed to taking a pragmatic approach to the car park’s future, considering the cost implications, future maintenance requirements and the evolving parking needs of the town.

“In the meantime, we are working closely with permit holders to provide alternative parking arrangements in our town centre car parks and appreciate residents’ understanding as we progress with evaluating the future of this site.”

Permit holders currently using Victoria Way car park are being offered alternative parking arrangements to ensure minimal disruption.

whatever the hour.

The improvements to St Mary’s and St John’s car parks are part of Colchester’s broader efforts to modernise and future-proof the city’s infrastructure in anticipation of the upcoming multimillion-pound regeneration for Britannia car park.

As the city centre continues to evolve, it is crucial to ensure that parking facilities remain

“By widening the bays in St Mary’s and improving the access to St John’s car parks – in addition to other upgrades – we will not only make these areas more accessible, but we are also preparing for the future as part of our broader regeneration efforts. This will help us meet the growing demand for parking and improve the overall experience for everyone visiting our city centre.

“In addition to the bay widening, the repairs will focus on waterproofing the surfacing and maintaining the structural integrity of both car parks, ensuring their continued safe use for the long term. These improvements are designed to accommodate the needs of both today’s drivers and those in the future.”

Coventry’s Barracks MSCP to close

A multi-storey car park in Coventry city centre is to close for good on Friday 31 January.

The 460-space Barracks multi-storey car park is set to be bulldozed to make way for the City Centre South scheme.

The council has used social media to post the nearest alternative places, which are Salt Lane, Lower Precinct or New Union Street.

The City Centre South scheme is designed to rejuvenate this part of the city centre with new shops, homes, bars and restaurants.

The council has re-opened the Whitefriars Street car park, which had closed in January 2021. It was shut due to a rise in empty spaces in car parks across the city during the pandemic.

The 115-space Whitefriars Street surface car park, located near Coventry University, is to become a long-stay pay & display facility.

Coventry’s 231-space City Arcade car park is also due to be demolished this year to make way for the regeneration project.

The St Mary’s car park

The Barracks car park

Sunderland Riverside wins award

Multi-storey facility acts as gateway to urban regeneration project

Sunderland City Council’s Riverside multi-storey car park has been recognised for its design excellence at a national architecture awards. The 657space car park at Farringdon Row, was named Best Infrastructure and Transport Project at the AJ Awards.

Designed by architectural firms Ryder Architecture and Tonkin Liu, and constructed by Sir Robert McAlpine, the car park was described as bringing “a real sense of joy” to judges, with a the panel of experts saying: “The designers have done a brilliant job in turning what could have been a difficult brief into something beautiful and elegant. This brings a smile to the face.”

The new facility opened last summer and is split over 11 levels. Its metal façade has perforations that create wave forms as a reference to Sunderland’s historic links to the sea.

The car park is illuminated during the evening and features two living walls created with over 50,000 plants carefully selected for their ability to thrive in the local climate.

Cllr Lindsey Leonard, member for environment, transport and net zero, said: “We’re not content to build new schemes that are anything short of exceptional, and that can be seen again and again when you look at the transforming cityscape at Riverside Sunderland. Every building is well-designed and the fact that even the car park at Riverside Sunderland is award winning reflects the scale of our ambition, and our commitment to excellence as a local authority.”

Riverside Sunderland is part

of a plan to boost the number of people living and working in the heart of the city. The ambition is to double the resident population of the city centre from 2,500 to 5,000 and increase employment by 50% to 18,000.

A number of other buildings at Riverside Sunderland development have already been recognised by prestigious awards, including City Hall, which was named as Best of the Best Office in 2022.

The multi-storey was named Best New Car Park at the British Parking Awards 2023.

Car park safety report finds a readership

A notice on the potential dangers of overloaded car parks was among the 10 most read reports produced by Collaborative Reporting on Safer Structures (CROSS-UK) during 2024.

The report reflected concerns about significant increase in the gross weight of vehicles that are able to use multi-storey car parks, leading to fears over safety.

Besides car parks, the list of the most popular safety reports from the past 12 months spanned issues such as concerns about competency of engineers, poor quality housing renovations and worries about fire safety.

CROSS-UK is an initiative of the Institution of Structural Engineers (IStructE), Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) and Institution of Fire Engineers.

CROSS-UK seeks to help professionals to make structures safer by publishing safety information based on the reports they receive and information in the public domain.

• Ian Bailey, fire safety consultant at CROSS-UK, will be speaking at the CAR PARKS 2025 conference, which takes place in London on 2 April. Bailey worked for the London Fire Brigade as an operational fire officer for over three decades.

Since 1969, award winning group Cemplas Waterproofing & Concrete Repairs, have been using their multidisciplinary knowledge and technical expertise to develop and deliver the best cost effective solutions to complex repair and renovation projects.

Are you ready to take your project to the next level? Having recently won three prestigious industry awards, Cemplas can support your journey all the way and help you to achieve an outstanding final result.

Riverside Sunderland

£65m boost for Connected Kerb

Chancellor unveils National Wealth Fund investment in charging network

Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves has announced a £65m investment in electric vehicle (EV) charging provider Connected Kerb in a major speech on economic growth. The National Wealth Fund (NWF) will provide £55m of financing, alongside a further £10m ordinary equity investment from Aviva Investors, to support the UK-based chargepoint operator’s plans to grow its charging network towards 40,000 public sockets, up from a current network 9,000. The NWF is a Treasury-owned but operationally independent body that succeeded the National Infrastructure Bank.

Speaking at the Siemens Healthineers facility in Oxfordshire on 29 January, Reeves said the UK government’s capital investment will be focussed on catalysing private sector investment in housing, transport links and clean energy. The chancellor endorsed reviving the long delayed East-West rail link between Oxford and Cambridge as well as an expansion of airport capacity in the form of the much debated third runway at London Heathrow and the reopening of Doncaster-Sheffield Airport in South Yorkshire.

Reeves said: “Today I can announce two further investments by the National Wealth Fund. First, a £65m investment for Connected Kerb, to expand their electric vehicle charging network across the UK. And second, a £28m equity investment in Cornish Metals, providing the raw materials to be used in solar panels, wind turbines and electric vehicles, supporting growth and jobs in the South West of England. There is no trade-off between economic growth and net zero. Net zero is the industrial opportunity of the 21st century, and Britain must lead the way. That is why we will publish a refreshed Carbon Budget Delivery Plan later this year, which alongside the Spending Review, will set out our plans to deliver Carbon Budget 6.”

EV ownership is rising in the UK with over 30% of new vehicles sold last December being pure battery EVs. However, many drivers cannot charge their vehicles at home – maybe 55% of dwellings in urban areas lack driveways or garages. By boosting public charging infrastructure, the NWF believes Connected Kerb’s public/private partnership model can rebalance this inequality.

Ministers have set a goal of installing at least 30,000 public EV chargepoints by 2030 ahead of bans on the sale of new petrol and diesel vehicles.

Future of roads minister Lilian Greenwood said: “Our chargepoint network is going from strength to strength, and it’s brilliant to see Connected Kerb secure a £65m boost to expand its charging network – a great vote of confidence in the EV transition. The funding follows a record of nearly 20,000 public chargepoints added last year. With a further £6bn in the pipeline from industry by 2030, the switch to EVs is driving investment across the country, supporting jobs and making the UK a clean energy superpower to deliver our plan for change.”

Zapmap data suggests that Connected Kerb is on course to become the largest network of public chargers in the UK in 2025, having jumped from 6th to 2nd position in the last two years. The operator plans to grow its charging network towards 40,000 sockets, up from the 9,000 already in place at the end of 2024.

Chris Pateman-Jones, chief executive of Connected Kerb, said: “This investment combines Connected Kerb’s proven hardware and advanced software infrastructure with the financial resources of NWF and Aviva to deploy public charging at scale, to all corners of the UK. This is a game-changing investment that will give individuals and businesses the confidence to make the switch to driving electric, dramatically reducing carbon emissions and air pollution. We are delighted to have such high profile investors who deeply aligned with our sustainability and ethical goals.”

John Flint, CEO of the National Wealth Fund, said: “To get to net zero we need to make it as easy as possible for people to change the way they do things. Providing convenient and reliable on-street charging is key to helping those without driveways make the switch to electric vehicles. Our investment in Connected Kerb will support one of the UK’s leading public chargepoint operators to continue its network expansion and deploy this much-needed EV charging infrastructure at pace and at scale to homes and businesses across the country.”

Angenika Kunne, head of infrastructure equity at Aviva Investors, said: “We are pleased to extend our relationship with Connected Kerb and to back its continued growth plans. This is an ambitious company which we believe is leading the way in helping the UK get ready for the future and supporting the transition towards a low-carbon economy.”

Chancellor Rachel Reeves

ZEV Mandate consultation launched

Government seeks feedback on proposed revival of the 2030 petrol and diesel car phase-out

Transport secretary Heidi Alexander has launched a consultation asking for views from the automotive and electric vehicle (EV) charging industries on how to deliver on Labour’s manifesto commitment to restore the 2030 phaseout date for new purely petrol and diesel cars. The 2030 phase out date was broadly supported by industry before the previous Conservative government pushed the phase-out back to 2035. Despite this, currently more than two-thirds of car manufacturers in the UK have committed to fully transitioning to electric cars by 2030.

The consultation proposes updates to the Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Mandate, which is the joint responsibility of the UK government, the Department for Infrastructure in Northern Ireland, the Scottish Government, and the Welsh Government. The mandate sets out the percentage of new zero-emission cars and vans manufacturers will be required to sell each year up to 2030.

To support manufacturers in the transition, the ZEV Mandate already features a range of flexibilities to help industry comply in a way that makes sense for them and the wider market, including selling fewer zero-emission vehicles than the headline target if they make up for it in other ways. The consultation explores the design of the flexibilities to ensure they continue to support manufacturers.

The consultation is designed to restore clarity for vehicle manufacturers and the charging industry so that they have the confidence to invest in the UK in the long-term and drive growth in the UK automotive industry.

Labour says the consultation is focussed on ‘how, not if’ the UK will reach the 2030 target. It aims to give the sector the opportunity to consider how the current arrangements and flexibilities are working, which hybrid cars can be sold alongside zero-emission models between 2030 and 2035, and any further support measures to help make the transition a success for industry and consumers.

The transport secretary said: “Employing 152,000 people and adding £19 billion to our economy, the UK’s automotive industry is a huge asset to our nation – and the transition to electric is an unprecedented opportunity to attract investment, harness British innovation, and deliver growth for generations to come. Yet over the last few years, our automotive industry has been stifled by a lack of certainty and direction. This government will change that. Drivers are already embracing EVs faster than ever, with one in four new cars sold in November electric.”

The consultation is part of a wider push to make it easier and cheaper for drivers to charge their electric cars. There has been a £2.3 billion investment from the UK government to support domestic manufacturers and consumers switch to EVs.

The consultation comes as figures show more than 72,000 public chargepoints. There is a promise of £6 billion of private investment by 2030 to roll-out chargepoint network at pace. Another 100,000 chargers are planned by local authorities across England under the government’s Local EV Infrastructure Fund.

The UK government also unveiled a series of measures to continue to improve charging infrastructure and tackle barriers to EV take-up and drive forward this transition. The new measures include:

• A separate consultation on whether to reduce barriers to roll-out more zero-emission vans.

• Changes in planning legislation to provide additional flexibility in England through permitted development rights when installing offstreet electric vehicle chargepoints.

• Amendments to legislation to allow chargepoint installers to use street works permits instead of licences to make it easier and quicker to install chargers, and to apply for these online using the Department for Transport’s Street Manager digital service for planning and managing works.

• New guidance aimed to help local authorities in England to develop policies about the safe and effective use of cross-pavement solutions, which can provide residents with convenient charging options.

The results of a review will also be published on how to improve grid connections for chargepoints, increasing cohesion, cooperation and communication across the industry. Local councils will continue to be supported in their charging projects with resource and new guidance.

Responses

Mike Hawes, Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) chief executive: “Aside from the billions invested in new technologies and products, it has cost manufacturers in excess of £4 billion in discounting in the UK this year alone. This is unsustainable and, with the 2025 market looking under even greater pressure, it is imperative we get an urgent resolution, with a clear intent to adapt the regulation to support delivery, backed by bold incentives to stimulate demand. Such action will support not only the industry, but also deliver for the economy, consumer, government and the environment.”

Lisa Brankin, Ford UK’s chair and managing director: “The one thing that we really need is government-backed incentives to urgently boost the uptake of electric vehicles.”

Matt Adams, head of transport at the REA (Association for Renewable Energy and Clean Technology): “It is welcome news that the government will look to restore the end of sale of internal combustion engines (ICE) to 2030. For the EV infrastructure sector this will help provide investor certainty and allow us to deploy charging infrastructure further and quicker than ever before. Decarbonising road transport is crucial to hitting net zero and this consultation is the best next step in getting us there.”

Vicky Read, chief executive of ChargeUK: “We welcome the publication of the ZEV mandate consultation, which we hope will bring certainty to the EV and charging sectors after a destabilising few months, during which the foundations of the UK’s EV policy have been called into question. Having committed to invest £6 billion by 2030, ChargeUK’s members are putting a new public charger in the ground every 25 minutes, with the National Audit Office recently confirming the sector is on track to deliver the charging required for 2030.”

Toby Poston, chief executive of the British Vehicle Retail and Leasing Association (BVRLA): “It has been a tough year for automotive industry, which has spent billions of pounds underpinning the ZEV transition – funding huge discounts on new cars and taking a massive hit on used vehicle depreciation. This consultation gives us a valuable opportunity to realign the aims of the mandate with the realities being seen in the market today.”

James Court, public policy director at Octopus Electric Vehicles: “The ZEV mandate is working; 25% of new car sales were electric last month and we can’t let this momentum slip. Drivers and investors need certainty to build confidence in our transition to clean, cheap driving and with clear and bold policy the UK can position itself as a world leader for EVs – creating green jobs, saving drivers cash and cleaning our local air for future generations.”

Robin Heap, CEO of EV charging network Zest: “We are pleased that the government is committed to working closely with the rapidly expanding and commercially sustainable UK EV charging industry, to streamline chargepoint installations across the country. We would like to see policy drive long-term UK economic growth with awareness of changing international market landscapes, to promote social equity across the country, and help to establish the abundance of charging infrastructure needed to enable the switch to EVs, regardless of where they live.”

The consultation will close at 11:59pm on 18 February 2025.

Transport secretary Heidi Alexander

Public electric vehicle chargepoint installations are currently on track to meet the minimum 300,000 needed across the UK by 2030, but the UK government faces challenges to address the location of chargepoints, their accessibility and planning rules, says the National Audit Office (NAO). A report by the Comptroller and Auditor General – Public chargepoints for electric vehicles – also flags up wider barriers to chargepoint installation that are hindering progress, such as the cost and time needed to receive planning permissions and electricity grid connections.

As of July 2024, 64,632 electric vehicle chargepoints had been installed. This is in line with projections made by the Department for Transport (DfT), through the Office for Zero Emissions Vehicles (OZEV), which is a team working across government supporting the transition away from petrol and diesel. The DfT anticipates that its local chargepoint programme and continued growth in private installations will support the trajectory needed to reach 300,000 by 2030.

The DfT established the local electric vehicle infrastructure (LEVI) programme to support local authorities in rolling out chargepoints, a £450m fund running between 2022-23 and March 2025. Through LEVI, the DfT is supporting more local authorities to install chargepoints, and currently forecasts the programme will install at least 100,000 chargepoints. But the programme has faced delays, owing to local authority plans taking longer to develop than the DfT expected and an established procurement route proving no longer feasible. Consequently, local authorities may need further government support beyond the current programme end date.

Gareth Davies, head of the NAO, said: “Government’s estimate of the 300,000 public electric vehicle chargepoints needed by 2030 appears achievable, although there is more to do to ensure adequate coverage in all parts of the country. Government is using regulation to improve the user experience of public chargepoints and needs to address access for people with disabilities.”

Regional variations

While the overall number of chargepoint installations is on track, the estimate does not account for where chargepoints should be installed. This has created a regional divide; 44% of public chargepoints in the UK have been installed in London and the South East, while only 15% of chargepoints in England are in rural areas. London has more chargepoints installed per capita than any other region.

Chargepoint locations

The location of chargepoints is also an issue along the strategic road network: motorways and major A-roads. Whilst the number of rapid and ultra-rapid chargepoints installed along the strategic road network has exceeded the DfT’s expectations, there are stretches of A-roads which don’t have sufficient chargepoints. In 2020, the government announced an aim for six ultra-rapid chargepoints at every motorway service area in England by 2023, anticipating that the private

Charger roll-out on track, but obstacles still remain

National Audit Office reports on public EV chargepoint provision

sector would be able to achieve this. As of July 2024, 62% of service areas have met this.

Planning obstructions

The NAO says the UK’s chargepoint roll-out is being hindered because it is slower and more expensive than it needs to be for chargepoint operators to get planning permissions and electricity grid connections. In response, government is working with stakeholders to streamline planning and connection processes where possible, and is considering more fundamental reform, including looking at rules around highway consents and gaining landowner permissions for development.

Driver concerns

Consumers have numerous concerns over using public chargepoints, which government has put in place regulation to address, says the NAO. These concerns include complexity in using chargepoints, with operators having different ways to pay, pricing being unclear or

Recommendations

unduly expensive, and malfunctioning or inoperative chargepoints. It is still too early to say whether OZEV’s regulatory intervention has helped, as many of its requirements only came into force from November 2024. Drivers with disabilities have been left behind in the roll-out to date; many chargepoints – and their surrounding environments – have features that make them inaccessible. These include chargepoints placed on kerbs, with nearby obstructions, or those closely spaced together, presenting difficulties for wheelchair users. The DfT said in its 2018 inclusive transport strategy that the Equality Act 2010 was applicable to the provision of chargepoints, and co-sponsored the creation of a standard which specifies minimum requirements for chargepoint accessibility. However, industry and local authorities have reported further clarity is needed on compliance with this standard, and the DfT has established a technical group to address these issues.

The NAO says the Department for Transport should:

• consider whether developing regional demand forecasts, and demand forecasts differentiating between urban and rural locations, would aid the roll-out of public chargepoints

• develop a set of strategic principles for intervention, to guide its design of future interventions where chargepoint demand may not be addressed by its existing programmes

• work with local authorities, and the central support body it established to help them, to develop a plan for how to sustain the capability built through the LEVI programme after it ends

• develop a monitoring framework for the open data it collects through the Public Charge Point Regulations, so that it can understand emerging consumer and operator issues in the chargepoint market, including where regional variations may emerge

• ensure that a clear understanding of what constitutes compliance to the chargepoint accessibility standard is determined, so that industry and local authorities can incorporate it into future installations.

Charging infrastructure must be accessible

The Motability Foundation’s Rachel Badger wants action on charger design standards

The national Audit Office has published a report on progress with the roll-out of public chargepoints for EVs. The Motability Foundation provided evidence for this report on the current accessibility of public charging.

We are pleased to see that this excellent report from the National Audit Office (NAO) recognises the real risk that the accessibility needs of disabled motorists will remain unaddressed unless further action is taken.

The BSI PAS 1899 standard, which we cosponsored alongside UK government, provides a clear specification on the minimum requirements to improve public chargepoint accessibility. Since it was published in October 2022 we’ve been doing everything we can to promote uptake of the minimum requirements amongst chargepoint manufacturers, operators, designers, procurers and local authorities.

It has been our position for some time that the PAS 1899 standard should be made mandatory by law, and we have been advocating for this both publicly and with MPs, but ultimately it is a decision for government to take forward. We also believe that providers of public charging should also be taking responsibility for ensuring their infrastructure is accessible, so that disabled

Responses to NAO report

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown MP, chair of the House of Commons Public Account Committee: “While good progress has been made on the roll-out of public charging points for electric vehicles, there is still significant variation in their availability across the country. Issues with planning permissions and electricity grid connections are acting as roadblocks to further progress. If the government is serious about encouraging the take-up of electric vehicles, it must ensure the public can reach reliable, convenient and accessible charging points.”

Vicky Read, chief executive of chargepoint provider body ChargeUK: “ChargeUK members are delivering for the UK. The NAO report backs up the research in our own White Paper that found that we are on track to deliver over 300,000 public chargepoints by 2030.

“A new chargepoint is added to the network every 25 minutes on average. We are delivering at the scale and pace necessary to support the transition to electric vehicles. Now the challenge is to stay on track, and for that to happen government must pay heed to the recommendations in this report and tackle the remaining barriers holding us back from going even further and faster.

people are not left behind in the transition to electric. Making chargepoints accessible can also benefit everyone, especially older people and those with young children.

We will continue to do everything we can within our remit to improve public chargepoint accessibility, including working closely with the Department for Transport and providers of public charging to support their efforts.

The NAO report also recognises that drivers who are solely reliant on public chargepoints pay more to power their vehicle than those who have access to private charging. This has an impact on disabled people as we estimate that up to half of disabled motorists will be reliant on public EV chargepoints (that’s 1.35 million disabled motorists by 2035).

Activity undertaken by the Motability Foundation to support compliance with the PAS 1899 standard had included working with the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles

“Planning permission and grid connections need to be simpler and faster. And we would like to see the Local EV Infrastructure scheme get going at pace to facilitate the vital roll out in all parts of the UK. Finally, speculation over the ZEV mandate must stop. Government must publicly recommit to the rules as they stand and resist pressure to meddle in order to maintain a healthy flow of investment into our sector, so we can keep delivering the charging that the UK needs.”

Matt Adams, transport policy manager for renewable energy association

RECHARGE UK: “The news from the National Audit Office that we are on track to hit the government’s target of 300,000 chargepoints by 2030 should add extra confidence that wherever you are, charging infrastructure has been or soon will be built for you.”

Melanie Shufflebotham, co-founder and COO, Zapmap: “Zapmap’s latest annual survey showed that 61% of EV drivers think the charging network has improved, but there were still concerns as have been identified in this latest report.

“Over the past couple of years there has been a significant leap forward in the number of chargepoints available to EV drivers, particularly the crucial ultra-rapid chargers and charging hubs to support EV drivers on longer journeys. These are quite

(OZEV) to introduce accessibility questions for applications into the Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) fund, and offering our endorsement to the best assessment schemes which check for compliance with PAS 1899. The latter was in response to our engagement with industry which found that providers and manufacturers wanted a way of checking if their chargepoints conformed with PAS 1899.

The Motability Foundation is also aware of industry feedback that some providers have found parts of the PAS 1899 standard difficult to comply with or understand in some circumstances. With this in mind we have again worked with OZEV to sponsor the establishment of a PAS 1899 technical working group, hosted by the BSI as referenced in the report.

The group has provided an opportunity for industry to give feedback on achieving PAS 1899 compliance and engage with disabled people on their experiences with public charging. This group is currently working through potential revisions to the standard, and an updated version of PAS 1899 is likely to be available in the first half of this year. As PAS 1899 was produced as a rapid standard the intention was always to review it following initial implementation to determine whether any changes were required once it was tested on the ground.

Rachael Badger is director of performance and innovation at the Motability Foundation

well-spread across the country too whilst the slower local chargers, important for drivers who can’t charge at home, is where we see the issue of geographical concentration.

“Having access to charging at a local level is essential for an equitable transition to electric vehicles and the LEVI fund has been put in place to help deliver this, but as the NAO has identified delays remain. The UK’s EV charging network has seen transformational growth, but more still needs to be done to ensure it is fairer for drivers regardless of where they live.”

Dr Maya Singer-Hobbs, senior research fellow in IPPR’s energy, climate and infrastructure team: “Behind the headline figure, the National Audit Office report reveals the risk that some people and places are being left behind in being able to access a suitable public charger. Despite the Department for Transport creating standards for chargepoint accessibility, it hasn’t made these compulsory, meaning that much of current public charging network is not accessible to drivers with disabilities.

“Similarly, charger coverage in rural communities is low, making it harder for people to adopt the use of EVs. Government must focus its resources in filling those gaps and mandating accessibility standards.”

99% reliability rule is now a reality

Public Charge Point Regulations aim to boost driver confidence

Rapid chargepoint operators are now required to have 99% reliability across their electric vehicle charging networks. The introduction of new regulations are designed to give drivers the confidence to make the switch to electric.

The second phase of the Public Charge Point Regulations 2023 came into force on 24 November, requiring chargepoint operators who operate public charging infrastructure to meet new and improved regulations that will help improve the experience of drivers using charging infrastructure.

The public charging network is growing significantly year on year, on top of around 1 million domestic and workplace chargepoints. According to Zapmap data, there were around 70,000 public chargepoints in the UK by the end of October 2024.

The UK hit a new electric vehicle (EV) sales record last month, with over 25% of all car registrations in November

Scotland sets out roll-out plan

The Scottish Government has published its Draft Implementation Plan outlining how it will support the delivery of approximately 24,000 additional public electric vehicle (EV) chargepoints by 2030.

The draft plan sets out 15 actions to achieve the growth necessary in the public charging infrastructure in Scotland and to deliver Scotland’s Vision for public EV charging.

The Scottish Government says delivering approximately 24,000 additional public EV chargepoints by 2030 will require collective action from a range of organisations that share responsibility for delivering public EV charging, including businesses investing in EV charging, energy network operators and government.

Transport Scotland is consulting before the final Vision Implementation Plan is published later in 2025.

New regulations cover EV charging

being electric.

As sales of EVs continue to rise, chargepoint operators are now required to provide contactless payment on all rapid and ultra-rapid chargepoints (those above 49kW often found at motorway service stations and supermarkets), and on all new chargepoints of 8kW or more (often found on street nearby a driver’s home).

EV trade group RECHARGE UK and its members are working with the Office for Zero Emissions Vehicles (OZEV) to ensure drivers have a seamless charging experience, every time.

Where a driver may face a problem charging they will have access to free to use, 24/7, 365 days a year helplines to quickly resolve (on the whole) most issues a driver may have. Drivers will also have access to better data to help inform their choice and time of charging with information like opening hours, where a chargepoint is located, the type of energy that is used to charge a driver’s car (e.g. renewable or otherwise), and whether a vehicle can be left to charge beyond opening hours among several other data types.

Matt Adams, transport policy manager for RECHARGE UK said: “These regulations mark a significant step for drivers up and down the country as charging a car will 99% of the time be as uneventful and ordinary as any payment or day-to-day activity while benefiting from a quieter, more comfortable driving experience. We hope these regulations give drivers the confidence to now make the switch to electric when they purchase their next car.”

RECHARGE UK is the EV arm of the REA (Association for Renewable Energy and Clean Technology). It is comprised of 100 companies that are manufacturing, installing, operating, consulting on, financing and providing electricity supply to EV charging infrastructure.

REA is the UK’s largest trade association for renewable energy and clean technologies with around 500 members operating across heat, transport, power and the circular economy. The REA is a not-for-profit organisation representing 14 sectors, ranging from biogas and renewable fuels to solar and electric vehicle charging.

London Councils uses dynamic purchasing for chargepoints

London Councils has announced the launch of a new Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) which has been designed to streamline the procurement of electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure such as chargepoints.

The new DPS – developed in partnership with procurement specialist Proactis – will make it easier for suppliers to bid for contracts and for local authorities to manage their purchasing needs. The system will cater for EV infrastructure and maintenance and aims to support boroughs in providing the chargepoints that residents, businesses and visitors need.

London is currently leading the nation in EV infrastructure, with over 20,000 public chargepoints available.

The DPS will run for a fouryear period and is available to councils and public sector organisations outside the capital. The system will offer:

• Enhanced efficiency: The DPS will reduce the time and

resources required for procurement, enabling faster decision-making.

• Increased transparency: All procurement activities will be conducted through a central platform, ensuring a clear and auditable trail of all transactions.

• Greater value for money: By opening up the procurement process to a wider range of suppliers, local authorities can achieve more competitive pricing and better quality goods and services as well as allowing London boroughs to pool their buying power, giving them access to better prices and suppliers and helping them compete with larger parts of the country.

• Improved supplier engagement: The system will facilitate better communication and collaboration with suppliers, fostering stronger relationships and encouraging innovation.

• Improved standards: The system will incorporate the best standards requirements

from past and current frameworks, ensuring better outcomes for local authorities and their residents.

• Enhanced adaptability: The system will be managed and maintained to respond to market changes and incorporate new developments and suppliers, ensuring local authorities are able to access and procure the best the market can offer.

Cllr Kieron Williams, London Councils executive member for climate, transport and environment, said: “The new system improves the way boroughs buy goods and services. This significant step forward ensures that boroughs will be able to deliver quickly and provide better value for money. There are currently 14 suppliers available through the DPS – this number is expected to grow as the system gains momentum and new suppliers enter the market. We welcome interest from councils looking to participate in the system.”

Evolt Charging alarm deters cable theft

Osprey Charging adopts Cable Alarm protection system

Cable theft is a widespread challenge affecting all chargepoint operators (CPOs), with increasing reports of criminals targeting EV chargepoints for the copper wiring within the cables. Despite the copper’s comparatively low resale value – which is likely to be less than £4 per cable – each stolen cable can cost the CPO up to £1,000 to replace and cause inconvenience for drivers.

Chargepoint supplier Evolt Charging has introduced a new cable alarm in response to rising incidents of EV charger cable theft and vandalism. This is claimed to be the first device of its kind to be used in the UK.

Evolt Charging says it will give CPOs a way of protecting their assets, keeping their charging infrastructure secure and available for drivers to use.

One network that is investing in protective measures is Osprey Charging, which is the first CPO

to be working with Evolt Charging to trial the Cable Alarm at a selection of key sites.

The Cable Alarm, manufactured by Circontrol, can be installed on any of its DC chargers within an hour. The device detects when a charger cable has been cut or removed, immediately activating an audible alarm and flashing beacon.

The alarm can be set to continue for a pre-determined period, ranging from anywhere between 10 minutes and two

BT scraps cabinet conversion pilot

BT Group has cancelled a highprofile scheme to convert hundreds of green street cabinets into electric vehicle (EV) charging points having completed just one trial conversion. Instead of looking to create physical EV charging infrastructure, BT said it will instead be focussing on Wi-Fi connectivity challenges surrounding EVs.

Many green cabinets are coming towards the end of their lifespans as BT upgrades to fibre broadband. In January 2024, BT announced it wanted to explore the potential to repurpose up to 60,000 cabinets across the UK that are due to be decommissioned by bringing EV charging to the public kerbside.

The first, and only, charger was installed in East Lothian, Scotland last May. BT then planned to focus next on West Yorkshire, with ambitions to scale up to 600 trial sites across the UK.

EV drivers could use the chargepoint by downloading the trial app from the App Store or Google Play Store. The app was designed and

developed by BT’s Etc. team in conjunction with EV drivers. It included features such as the visibility of EV chargers across the UK, real-time pricing, availability and charge speed, the ability to start, stop and monitor charge sessions, and to filter by connector type, kW speed and network.

The East Lothian charging point will now close in February, according to The Fast Charge, which broke the story.

A BT Group spokesperson said: “Our EV charging trials have focussed on how we might help address the charging needs EV drivers face across the UK. By adopting a pilot process we have been able to test and explore a great deal about the challenges that many on-street EV drivers are facing with charging and where BT Group can add most value to the UK EV ecosystem.

“Other emerging needs we’ve identified include the Wi-Fi connectivity challenge surrounding EV’s – our pilots will now shift in focus to explore this further. This is in line with BT Group’s core focus on connectivity.”

hours. The device can also be integrated with notification and management systems, as well as existing security systems and site lighting to add a further layer of protection on site.

Lewis Gardiner, operations director at Osprey, says Evolt’s solution is a step in the right direction: “Tackling the cable theft currently plaguing public charging hubs relies on collaboration between CPOs, hardware

if solutions are not found. Evolt’s new Cable Alarm is a welcome, proactive approach. Osprey have always been quick to trial new technology, and we look forward to seeing the impact of this innovation on the ground.”

Anne Buckingham, managing director at Evolt Charging, said: “The increase in EV cable theft is a real concern. It is inconvenient and frustrating for EV drivers and costly for the chargepoint owners, so we need to be one-step ahead of the criminals. This is high on the agenda for CPOs who will require a combination of different tools and tactics depending on the different types of locations they need to protect. Their response to the new Cable Alarm is already encouraging.

“We are fully behind ChargeUK and its pledge to work with the police and relevant authorities to find solutions to help deter these incidents and are committed to supporting leading CPOs like Osprey with

AppyWay launches Off-Street Module

New system can be used to manage public and estate parking

The latest addition to the AppyWay Traffic Suite is called the Off-Street Module. Designed with local authorities and estate managers in mind, the module simplifies and optimises the management of car parks and residential estate parking.

“For parking managers and councils, managing off-street parking can be a logistical nightmare,” says AppyWay chief executive Dan Hubert.

“From creating and updating orders to communicating restrictions and maintaining accurate records, the process is often time-consuming, manual, and prone to errors. Especially when you add the requirement to share the parking information with the public, adding even more manual labour to fulfil.

“Without a streamlined solution, even small tasks – like updating tariffs, sharing restrictions, or organising documentation – can become admin challenges that take hours to complete. That’s where our new solution steps in – you could think of the Off-Street Module as a powerful digital command centre, providing users with a full overview and control over their

parking assets.”

Whether managing councilcontrolled estates or privately managed roads, the Off-Street Module brings order to complex parking environments, says AppyWay.

With the module, users can:

• control multiple locations from a single dashboard

• streamline processes, such as updating tariffs and permissions across entire property portfolios

• save time by automatically generating and maintaining schedules

• deliver comprehensive parking management.

The module empowers users to

document and organise every parking space, from residential bays to visitor spots. It provides an overview of parking resources, helping managers allocate the capacity efficiently

The module covers surface level, multi-storey, underground and mechanical car park types. It spans multiple payment methods – pay-by-phone, pay & display, subscription, voucher, permit and free.

Map-based inventory

The Off-Street Module’s mapbased inventory building approach allows operators to build detailed inventories of their parking assets. They can:

• specify parking space details

(including time-based and emission-based tariffs)

• upload critical documentation

• define operating hours, public holidays and exemptions

• highlight features such as EV charging stations, disabled bays, cycle hangars, library bays and accessible spaces.

Estate parking

The digital map interface allows users to create, amend, and share regulations quickly, enhancing operational efficiency.

When integrated with AppyWay’s Streets iFrame, councils and estate managers can keep the public informed about car park regulations and availability without the additional need for IT support. The iFrame can be placed on a council’s website for the residents to view.

The module is being offered as part of the AppyWay Traffic Suite and is also available independently for UK councils.

“While the Off-Street Module integrates seamlessly with the broader AppyWay Traffic Suite, it is also designed to function as a standalone solution,” says Dan Hubert. “This flexibility ensures you can adopt the module independently, tailoring it to your organisation’s unique needs without committing to an entire system overhaul.”

AppyParking payments overtake cash in Harrogate

App now used for majority of kerbside and car park sessions

A majority of drivers are now opting to pay for parking through the AppyParking app rather than cash in the town of Harrogate.

The North Yorkshire town’s smart parking initiative began in 2019 with the installation of city-wide parking sensors and the introduction of the AppyParking app. The system combines real-time parking space sensors with seamless mobile payments.

Data for November shows that AppyParking handled 25.5% of all parking transactions in Harrogate, surpassing cash payments which accounted for 23.3%. The digital adoption rate is even more pronounced for on-street parking, where nearly one-third of all drivers now choose to pay through the app.

The app enables drivers to plan their journey in advance, and smoothly park and pay. Drivers can view parking availability across the city and pay for their parking session through their smartphones,

eliminating the need to search for cash or queue at parking machines.

Dan Hubert, chief executive of AppyWay, said: “The shift we’re seeing in Harrogate represents a fundamental change in how people approach urban parking. When we launched our smart parking solution in 2019, we envisioned a future where finding and paying for parking would be completely friction-free. Today’s numbers show that residents have not only embraced this vision but are actively choosing digital solutions over traditional payment methods.”

Steve Brown, head of parking services at North Yorkshire Council, said: “The growing preference for digital parking payments in Harrogate demonstrates our community’s readiness to embrace smart city solutions. The combination of real-time parking availability data and convenient payment options has transformed how our residents and visitors experience parking in the town. This shift not only improves the parking experience but also helps us manage our parking infrastructure more efficiently.”

The AppyWay Off-Street Module

AppyWay signage on a P&D machine in Harrogate

PayByPhone connects with car park ANPR

Car park operators can tap into Pay On Exit and Auto Payment

PayByPhone has launched two new products that enable its cashless payment app to be used in barrier-controlled car parks using automatic number plate recognition (ANPR).

The Pay On Exit and Auto Payment systems allow drivers to pay for stays in car parks via their phone, meaning they do not have to visit a terminal or pay at the barrier.

Adam Dolphin, UK managing director for PayByPhone, says: “The evolution of parking is continuing. From bay-specific parking meters with coins, to pay & display machines dispensing tickets, and on to cashless payment apps, drivers have dealt with a lot of change when it comes to how they pay for their parking.

“Today, ANPR technology is the latest advance to parking payments. However, it may be the most user-friendly one to date. Utilising high-resolution cameras and advanced software, ANPR systems are enabling a fast, easy and safe parking payment option in barriered car parks.”

Pay On Exit

PayByPhone launched its system for integrating with ANPR payment systems for barriered car parks in November 2024. Called Pay on Exit, this system enables drivers to pay for their stay via the PayByPhone app.

They pay for the amount of time they have parked when they leave the car park without any need to visit a payment kiosk, which can be time-consuming, especially during peak times.

Drivers enter the car park and ANPR records the vehicle’s arrival time. When they return to the car park, and are ready to leave, they bypass the payment kiosk and any queues there, and go straight to their vehicle. There, they open the PayByPhone app and enter the parking location number.

Utilising ANPR technology, Pay on Exit calculates the duration of the stay automatically, and the driver is prompted to pay using the PayByPhone app. Once the payment is processed, as the vehicle approaches the exit barrier, the ANPR technology recognises the number plate, and the barrier opens. If the motorist isn’t registered with

PayByPhone, they must register before entering the parking location number.

Adam Dolphin said: “Pay on Exit brings the same seamless digital user experience to barriered car parks that we provide for our on-street parking users. For those who operate busy barriered car parks, like retail centres, hospitals and airports, Pay on Exit delivers an easy option to manage transactions coupled with an improved experience for their customers.”

Auto Payment

A more advanced option is Auto Payment, which is again underpinned by ANPR.

ANPR cameras register the motorist driving in and out of the car park, and, based on that data, calculate the length of stay against the posted rate, so that PayByPhone can automatically take payment from the driver’s preferred payment method that

has been previously set up in the app. And all without the driver overpaying for unwanted time.

Motorists must opt into this feature before they start their journey, which is easy to do in the Auto Payment tab found under the Profile settings in the top right-hand corner of the app’s home screen. The opt-in covers every car park in which the parking operator offers Auto Payment.

“At PayByPhone, we are dedicated to simplifying our users’ journeys, which is why we have been so driven to introduce barrier and ANPR integrated products to our portfolio,” says Dolphin. “By creating a seamless experience for drivers, we are making parking hassle-free and less stressful. ANPR systems ensure drivers enjoy complete convenience. In many cases, they don’t even have to touch their phone. It is a time-saver for the driver and reduces anxiety around the possibility of penalty charge notices.

“We’ve successfully been delivering Auto Payment exclusively to 30 Transport for London car parks since 2019 so we are delighted now to offer it more widely. With this ANPR-based system, which can be introduced alongside ANPR in pay on exit or pay & display car parks, motorists simply drive into and out of the car park without ever needing to open the PayByPhone app. And there is no need to rush back to the car park because a pre-paid parking session is due to end.”

PayByPhone rolls out in South Hams and West Devon

Mobile parking payments provider

PayByPhone has replaced RingGo as the exclusive cashless parking payment provider for South Hams District Council and West Devon Borough Council.

The contract, which started on 12 January 2025, covers 53 off-street locations – almost 4,300 parking spaces.

Cllr Victor Abbott, executive member for community services and operations, South Hams District Council, said: “We’re looking forward to working with our new cashless parking provider, PayByPhone. As a council, we are always looking at ways that we can improve our efficiencies and services for our residents.”

Cllr Adam Bridgewater, hub member for neighbourhood services, West Devon Borough Council, added: “We have such

wonderful towns here in West Devon and we want to make sure both our residents and visitors can park as easily and quickly as possible. We look forward to working with PayByPhone.”

PayByPhone offers a number of services within its app. The Fuel Finder helps users find the cheapest petrol and diesel stations and EV Charge Locator and EV Payments enable users to find EV charging stations and pay for the session as well.

The app’s MOT bookings system not only reminds the user of when their MOT is due but also makes managing the task easier.

Motorists using PayByPhone also have access to the app’s Maps and the Nearby Parking features. The Maps feature allows motorists to locate parking before they leave for their destination and to pin their

vehicle location onto the map once they have parked.

The Nearby Parking feature instantly provides them with the closest PayByPhone parking location number. The app is available in 11 languages, making it inclusive for visitors to South West Devon.

Adam Dolphin, managing director UK for PayByPhone, said: “We are delighted to launch PayByPhone across South Hams and West Devon where we are confident we can make a positive difference to the parking experience for both residents and the area’s many visitors. And by offering the additional features geared towards general vehicle management in one simple full-service app, we help users to get on with what matters most to them in their busy lives.”

ANPR monitoring of HGVs in London

Sagoss Group partners with Arvoo for Lorry Control Scheme

London Councils has appointed Sagoss Group to deliver a new monitoring system for its Lorry Control Scheme, which monitors heavy goods vehicle (HGV) traffic and management across London’s roads.

Sagoss Group is a UK-based technology provider specialising in public sector and private sector parking and traffic projects.

Arvoo is a provider of automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) solutions.

Arvoo ANPR cameras have been integrated with Sagoss’s Park and Go system via Blink Enterprise software. This integration provides accurate detection and filtering of vehicles by type, ensuring the Lorry Control Scheme operates efficiently.

The new ANPR system provides London Councils with real-time traffic data and a userfriendly, web-based interface to enhance the monitoring of lorry traffic throughout the city.

The system will be accessible to both internal users within London Councils and external users, such as hauliers and drivers, facilitating seamless communication and operations.

“We are proud to be working alongside Arvoo to deliver this crucial project for London Councils,” said Stuart

Lawrenson, founder at Sagoss Group. “This partnership allows us to combine our expertise in integrated systems with Arvoo’s market-leading ANPR technology, bringing enhanced safety and efficiency to London’s road network.”

Key features of the ANPR system include:

• Advanced camera technology: Arvoo’s ANPR cameras are equipped with the capability to detect and filter vehicles by type, allowing for greater con-

trol and more targeted enforcement of traffic regulations.

• Seamless integration: The integration between Arvoo’s camera systems and Sagoss’ Park and Go platform via Blink Enterprise allows for real-time monitoring and easy data access for authorised users.

• Real-time data and accessibility: The system ensures real-time updates, providing both internal and external users with the ability to monitor traffic conditions with high

Newcastle deploys Yunex Traffic ANPR solutions

Yunex Traffic has been awarded a framework contract to supply and maintain an ANPR civil enforcement camera solution for Newcastle City Council.

Solutions from the company’s advanced civil enforcement portfolio will be deployed at sites across the city to help keep traffic flowing, improve bus timetable and journey time reliability and encourage more people to switch to public transport.

Newcastle City Council will use a combination of Yunex Traffic’s Secore II and LaneWatch ANPR cameras to enforce red routes, yellow box junctions and bus lanes in the city.

The work has been commissioned by the city council under the traffic enforcement powers which were granted to local authorities under Part 6 of the Traffic Management Act.

Wilke Reints, managing director of

Yunex Traffic in the UK, said: “Our enforcement solutions help councils manage their road networks more efficiently and effectively, enabling road users to enjoy improved travel times and safer journeys. In cities where our cameras have already been deployed, we have seen both journey time reliability and air quality significantly improve.

“Through high rates of detection accuracy and a ‘one-click’ review process, our solutions reduce the cost per penalty charge notice, driving safety, efficiency, cost and performance improvements.”

Using the framework, the first LaneWatch enforcement cameras are to be deployed to improve safety and prevent inconsiderate and dangerous parking on roads near Newcastle Airport.

Vehicles which stop on roads covered by the ‘red route’ from the A696 roundabout next to the airport along the B6918 and

accuracy and efficiency.

• Secure and tamper-proof data: The system’s data structure is designed with security in mind, featuring a comprehensive audit trail and tamperproof image storage to ensure full compliance and transparency.

The collaboration was led by James Horlock, head of business development at Sagoss Group, and Simon Jarvis, sales director of Arvoo UK & ROI.

Callerton Lane could receive a penalty charge notice (PCN).

It follows concerns raised regarding vehicles stopping on roads and residential streets close to the airport while waiting to drop off and pick up travellers. The council is encouraging drivers to use the free parking and waiting facilities provided by the airport.

Yunex Traffic’s ANPR enforcement cameras provide rapid and reliable vehicle identification and provide a key role in enforcing moving traffic offences. They incorporate the latest sensors to provide evidentially secure identification in all conditions for traffic enforcement, low emission zone management, tolling or access control. In Newcastle, the system is also fully integrated with the council’s Imperial 3-Sixty parking management system.

As part of the contract, Yunex Traffic will also be supplying its hosted Web Review Client solution as part of its drive toward one-click enforcement.

An Arvoo ScanCar

Tackling noisy vehicles

ITS UK urges government to support the noise camera technology market

Amajority of the public support measures to make it easier to enforce noise limits on road vehicles, suggests polling commissioned by Intelligent Transport Systems UK (ITS UK) and supported by noise camera providers Intelligent Instruments. The new polling comes alongside a new report from ITS UK, setting out key recommendations for the government to support the use of noise camera technology in the UK.

The findings of the survey of 2,050 individuals across the UK, show that there is strong support for measures to make it easier to enforce against excessively noisy vehicles, with 69% in support, and 16% opposing. Support is high across different regions of the UK, age groups and voting intentions.

Awareness of noise camera technology is low, with two-thirds of the public (67%) having never heard of them; 17% have heard but don’t know any details, and a tenth know at least a bit about noise cameras (10%). Among those with access to a vehicle, awareness remains low at 28%.

However, when noise cameras are explained to respondents, support for their further roll out is high with 62% in support, and 20% opposing. Half think public awareness of laws around excessively noisy vehicles and their enforcement is too low (50%) with only a fifth thinking it’s ‘about right’ (20%).

Alongside the findings, ITS UK has published a new report urging the government to take further action to support noise camera technology, setting out three recommendations.

• First, the establishment a government-led ‘Noise Group’ comprised of key industry stakeholders.

• Second the publication of overdue guidance for local authorities.

• Third, for government to support a public awareness campaign that promotes the positive role noise cameras can play in reducing noise pollution.

ITS UK’s chief executive, Max Sugarman, said: “Noise cameras allow local authorities or the police to pinpoint, and thereby enforce against, excessively noisy vehicles. Today’s polling shows that the public want to see action against noisy vehicles, and that when explained, noise cameras have a high level of support amongst the public. The public polling also shows a clear desire for greater information and understanding about what noise cameras can do.

“However, since trials concluded last year, there has been little support from Government for the roll out of this technology, with guidance for local authorities now overdue. The UK has great expertise in noise camera technology, and so support for this growing sector will not only mean quieter streets for communities around the UK, it will also mean backing a key market that has the potential to be exported around the world.”

What is a noise camera?

A noise camera is a device used to identify excessively noisy vehicles and where necessary, issue a fine to deter drivers from driving in an

anti-social manner.

The technology is based on sensors composed of either microphones or radar, that pinpoint a noisy vehicle as it passes. The camera will then take a recording, with automated number plate recognition (ANPR), to identify the vehicle and to create a package of evidence for use by the relevant authority.

The health impacts of noise

Excessively noisy cars and motorcycles that have been modified or driven in a way that creates additional noise are a public health burden blighting the lives of millions of Britons. The health effects of excess exposure to traffic noise are well documented.

Effects are known to include increased stress, cardiovascular function (hypertension, changes to blood pressure and/or heart rate), annoyance and sleep disturbance.

The survey

Opinium Research carried out an online survey of 2,050 UK adults aged 18-plus from 8-10 January 2025. The results have been weighted to be politically and nationally representative.

Adam Drummond, head of political and social research at Opinium, said: “Most people aren’t aware of noise camera technology, but many are affected by excessively noisy vehicles particularly in big cities like London, and there’s strong support for making it easier for the police and authorities to enforce existing laws on this issue.”

Read the report:

www.its-uk.org/noisecamera-polling