DfT began work six years ago on a system providing a hub to which parking providers and payment firms can connect, while drivers can use the apps of their choice

The government wishes to end the use of public funding to support the delivery and operation of the National Parking Platform, a minister has indicated.

The Department for Transport began working on delivering the platform – known as NPP – in 2019. The project is working to create a single underlying hub to which parking providers and payment systems can connect. This would enable individual drivers to use their preferred payment app, while providing simpler management of parking facilities for local authorities.

Live trials of NPP began in 2021, and about 10 councils are now using the platform – with about 200 having registered their desire to do so.

But, before they have a chance to do so, government wishes to put in place a new funding model for NPP, future roads minister Lillian Greenwood has indicated. While the new Labour administration “continues to support the concept of a National Parking Platform”, it believes financial support for such a system should come from industry stakeholders, the minister suggested.

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“The government recognises the many benefits of an NPP and the depth of support for it across the parking sector with over 200 local authorities having expressed an interest in joining,” she said. “However, we are of the view that it could and should be delivered without the need to rely on public funding, particularly given the dire financial position the government inherited.”

Greenwood, whose comments were made in response to a written parliamentary question from Liberal Democrat MP Martin Wrigley, added that existing funding commitments will remain in place for at least the next few weeks, while the DfT looks to make alternative arrangements.

“The department is working with the parking industry to explore options for taking forward delivery of a national platform,” the minister said. “The industry has responded positively to this and the pilot version of the NPP will continue to be funded to 31 March 2025 while these discussions continue.”