National parking platform could save drivers the hassle

Drivers across the country are frustrated by confusing parking rules, outdated systems, and cumbersome payment processes. But a new initiative – the National Parking Platform (NPP) – aims to change that, promising a streamlined, user-friendly solution to make paying for parking simpler and more consistent nationwide.

The NPP is a system that lets drivers pay for parking in all participating car parks using their preferred app, whether that’s RingGo, JustPark, PayByPhone, or others. And following successful trials, the government has announced that the British Parking Association (BPA) will lead its roll out.

The NPP brings together councils, parking providers, and leading tech companies to simplify parking nationwide. This means no more last-minute downloads, confusing payment systems, or missed signs. And the best part? The roll out won’t cost taxpayers a penny.

“We’re on the side of the drivers and are dedicated to giving everyone simpler, more flexible parking,” said Lilian Greenwood, Minister for the Future of Roads. “I’m delighted that this fantastic project is being taken on by the parking sector with no extra costs to taxpayers.”

The move follows a six-year collaboration between the government and the parking industry. The result is a shared platform that links car parks across the country, allowing fair competition between apps while removing confusion and helping reduce the chances of parking fines.

So far, the platform has been rolled out in 10 local authorities and handles over half a million transactions a month. With today’s announcement, the convenience will soon be available to all drivers across the UK.

“This is the result of six years of dedicated work by our parking sector to make paying for parking easier,” said Andrew Pester, BPA’s Chief Executive. “We’ve strongly supported the National Parking Platform from the start, and we’re excited to collaborate with the Department for Transport and the new NPP company to create a better parking experience for all drivers.”

The new system will continue to expand as more councils join, and will be run on a not-for-profit basis, with government oversight to ensure fairness, transparency, and long-term public value.

In a time when the government is also investing heavily in road infrastructure – including £1.6bn to fix potholes and £4.8bn for new roads – this initiative is being hailed as a smart, user-first approach to modernising public infrastructure.

The industry has welcomed the news, including automotive services company the RAC.

RAC’s Senior Policy Officer, Rod Dennis, said: “Paying to park a car should be one of the simplest things any driver does, but things have got much more complicated in recent years – a point demonstrated by the fact there are so many different mobile parking apps. If the arrival of a NPP removes that hassle, it’s definitely a welcome move.

“But the key will be ensuring as many car park operators as possible sign up to the system. Ten local authorities taking part is a good start, but drivers wherever they are in the country should be allowed to use whatever mobile app they want.

“We also believe all councils should provide drivers with at least two methods for – for those who can’t use a mobile app, or choose not to.”

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