MOTORISTS could see their parking experience simplified following the announcement that the government has agreed the development of an app to unify parking services.
Ministers have confirmed a successful collaboration with the British Parking Association which will see the BPA develop and run the National Parking Platform.
The Platform will enable drivers to pay for parking in all participating car parks on their preferred app, with the government working to ensure it will be delivered by a consortium of industry leaders
They include Ringo, JustPark, and PayByPhone, and will be led by the British Parking Association.
While drivers currently face inconsistent parking rules, and differing user experience, the National Parking Platform fixes this, connecting participating car parks to a shared platform, through which drivers can pay using any approved app.
It aims to cut confusion, reduce the chance of fines, and open up the parking market to fairer competition.
The new agreement will see the parking sector working with councils to run the platform on a not-for-profit basis.
It will operate under clear terms to ensure transparency, sustainability, and public value, while the government will maintain oversight of the platform by monitoring the sector’s compliance with these terms.
So far, the Platform has been rolled out in 10 local authorities and now handles over half a million transactions a month.
Today’s announcement means drivers nationwide should benefit from a simpler, more seamless experience.
Minister for the Future of Roads, Lilian Greenwood, said: “This government is on the side of drivers, and dedicated to giving everyone simpler, more flexible parking.
“I’m delighted that this fantastic project is being taken on by the parking sector with no extra cost to taxpayers.
“This is public infrastructure done right: built by government, shaped with councils, and now delivered by the sector that knows it best, at a time where we’re investing a record £1.6bn through our Plan for Change, to mend our pothole-ridden roads which damage cars, and £4.8bn to deliver new road infrastructure that will better connect people.”
Andrew Pester, BPA Chief Executive, said:
“Today’s announcement marks the result of six years of dedicated work by our parking sector to make paying for parking easier. We’ve strongly supported the National Parking Platform from the start, so we’re thrilled with this outcome and excited to collaborate with the Department for Transport and the new NPP Company to create a better parking experience for all drivers.”
As part of their next steps, the new consortium will be onboarding more local authorities imminently, to ensure that easier, simpler parking is rolled out to more drivers as soon as possible.
