Credit: Opollo Photography/Pixabay

The Department for Transport is looking to improve its access to data on off-street parking around the UK via a deal tap into information from online property firm Rightmove.

Newly published commercial information reveals that the DfT this week entered into a one-year contract with the internet firm. The deal, which provides access to a 12-month “Rightmove data licence”, will be worth £25,000 to the property-search firm.

The contract, which came into effect on 28 September, relates to data sets collated by the firm on the availability of off-street parking spaces. This information will be provided to the department’s Roads, Places, Environment and Future Mobility team.

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Contract databases show that Rightmove has previously won deals to provide data on property market trends to the then Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and its executive agency Homes England. Its engagement with the DfT is its first deal related to parking data.

Last year, the department began work – alongside partner Manchester City Council – on a pilot project to create a National Parking Platform, an online tool through which people will be able to pay for parking. The system will also collate and dispense the relevant data to local authorities around the country.

To support this programme, the DfT has been working to better understand existing parking options and the availability of each.