Drivers are set to benefit from simpler parking nationwide, as industry delivers a “one app fits all” parking platform at no cost to the taxpayer, following government-backed trials.
The government has confirmed that, following successful collaboration with the sector, the British Parking Association will now take forward the development and running of the National Parking Platform.
The platform will enable drivers to pay for parking in all participating car parks on their preferred app – ending the scramble to download multiple apps, and encouraging a more flexible parking experience.
The government intervened to make sure it can be delivered by a consortium of industry leaders including Ringo, JustPark, and PayByPhone, and led by the British Parking Association.
Currently, drivers face inconsistent parking rules, clunky user experiences, and unnecessary barriers to something that should be simple.
The National Parking Platform fixes this, connecting participating car parks to a shared platform, through which drivers can pay using any approved app — cutting confusion, reducing the chance of fines, and opening up the parking market to fairer competition.
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.”
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. 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 will benefit from a simpler, more seamless experience.
Andrew Pester, BPA chief executive, said:“This 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.
