For our latest piece, we’re looking at the issue of parking – its planning, integration, associated technologies and new LGIU research into how it is managed and the services procured by different local authorities. Next year, the government is due to roll out the National Parking Platform, which will change the way councils deliver parking. We look at some of the issues, and the role of technology and behaviour change programmes in ensuring its success.

The 2.4 by 4.8 metre grid of the standard parking space is a contentious piece of land. Increasingly, many people are questioning why a large proportion of our towns and cities should be dominated by the storage of private cars. An alternative lobby is demanding more convenience for drivers and larger parking spaces to reflect the growing size of vehicles. Parking factors in a range of policies, from net zero, health and road safety to transport, EV charging and regeneration – and councils have the difficult job of adjudicating on these demands and planning for residents’ future needs. 

Recent research by the Local Government Information Unit (LGIU) gave some useful insights into the different approaches adopted by local authorities when it comes to the management of parking services, with each area’s parking strategy (or absence of) as unique as the region they cover. A number of councils have introduced progressive models to help deliver on wider environmental targets, including emissions-based charging – the Royal Borough of Greenwich introduced this policy for its on-street permits in July. Other councils struggle to balance competing demands of attracting visitors to declining high streets while reducing congestion and anti-social parking, and promoting active and sustainable travel. 

The main conclusion from LGIU’s report, however, is a shared lack of awareness within councils of the potential impact of changes in the sector, in particular the National Parking Platform (NPP), which the government is due to roll out nationally next year. This will open up the market for phone parking payment providers, allowing them to effectively ‘plug in’ to each area, thus creating greater integration in systems across the UK and, it is hoped, a better experience for users. And as services evolve, the car parking payment systems could harness the potential of data to deliver more, from local information to other council services. 

Parking and emerging tech

When it comes to technology and transport, the adage is true – the only constant is change. In 2021, DG Cities’ Head of Smart Mobility, Kim Smith wrote a piece on the evolution of the car park, which looked at some of the forces driving change: the trend from car ownership to usership, the shift to electric vehicles and the growing popularity of the idea of mobility as a service.

In her piece, Kim looked at some of the proposals to repurpose multi-storey car parks for new uses, from skateparks to small business hubs, and highlighted the challenge of planning for changing technologies, transport choices and demographic needs. As she wrote: “While car-free – zero or minimal car parking spaces – may not be appropriate in year one, when a development is completed, in say, 15 years’ time, private vehicle ownership may be an obsolete concept.” This long-range, flexible approach to transport planning was the basis for our Mobility Assessment Framework, a tool we developed for local authorities and private developers to anticipate and plan for trends in mobility; a way to account for new services that have yet to become a reality on our streets. 

Planning for parking as part of a wider mobility strategy

We bring the principles of this framework to our own projects. Parking intersects with a number of areas of DG Cities’ work, from strategic planning, anticipating and integrating emerging tech, to consumer engagement and evaluation. Some of our recent projects in Greenwich have involved the development of  mobility hubs, both on the Council’s estates and for the private sector. These combine parking, EV charging, and micro-mobility solutions, such as bikes and e-scooters. The purpose of these is to encourage low-carbon travel alternatives, and in terms of space, to do ‘more with less.’

Our national projects have included strategies for the provision of electric vehicle charging, particularly in rural areas, where space can also be hard to find. Here, we have looked creatively at the puzzle of car storage and electrification, and we have worked with partners to map where the infrastructure can best support demand. These projects have been based on a clear understanding of needs, and collaboration with residents, businesses and councils to propose solutions that will be effective in the long-term. 

How do we help?

In essence, we are an innovation partner for councils that don’t have the resources or expertise in-house to make the most of new technologies or services that could benefit their residents and businesses, whether that’s in parking or energy reduction in the home. Our understanding of different areas of tech, and our behavioural science expertise, help us identify and map the steps needed to bring the public on board with any new innovation.

As Kim explains, “We have a lot of experience of trials when it comes to different technologies. We know what the technology is there to do, but human behaviour can be harder to predict. With our clients, we can be frank about which pilots worked, why that was the case, what happened when tech met people, and what they can learn from that to improve their areas and increase the chances of success.” 

If you would like to find out more about our work with local authorities, get in touch.