ways2work > How to do it > Re-thinking commuting > What we could do differently > Re-thinking cars for work > Parking

Parking

We’re starting with car parking as many businesses underestimate the cost of parking. ways2work Advisory Note 7 - Parking Management as part of Travel Plans, accessible in the Members' area, sets out in detail the costs of car parking for businesses and suggests how these costs can be reduced through more effective car park management.

Effective parking management typically doubles the traffic reduction of an otherwise comprehensive travel plan and has been shown to be the most effective tool in a travel plan. However, very few organisations make good use of parking management strategies. The advisory note lays out a range of options available for businesses – and the consequences - should there be a need or a desire to control parking. Please see the advisory note for more information on the following options:

Rationing
Charging
Rewarding

Workplace parking levy

The levy – the first of its kind in the UK – is due to be introduced in phases in Nottingham from 2012 at a charge of £253 per space per year. It will affect employers with more than 10 parking spaces, although disabled parking and hospital parking will be exempt from the scheme. The proposal is for the levy to be city wide within the City council boundary and all liable employers (those with more than 10 spaces) will have to obtain a licence.

Around 500 larger employers will be liable to pay the charge with more than 3,000 smaller employers not paying the levy. It is estimated that the levy will generate more than £90 million during its 20-year life span.

Depending on how the Workplace Parking Levy works for Nottingham, this may well be taken up by other cities in the UK. It is therefore something that businesses should bear in mind.

Over recent years, Beachcroft has continually highlighted the importance of climate change to its employees and with the relocation of the Bristol office came the perfect opportunity to further incorporate the minimising of carbon emissions through the establishment of various initiatives such as an employee travel survey, flexible working and travel plan schemes.

With 28% of the workforce living within 2 miles of the Bristol office and a further 26% living 2 - 4 miles from the office, Beachcroft created a business travel survey to discover what would motivate these employees to reduce the unnecessary use of cars to and from the office.

The move brought with it a reduction in car park spaces available to staff by at least 50% and the transition to lower emission company cars.

Bentley Motors

in 2009 the car share scheme alone saved an estimated 1,493,192 miles and 491.3 tonnes of CO2

Heathrow

car share scheme saves an estimated 247,820 kg of CO2 per month and since 2009 approximately 200 new members each month saved over £200,000 in cost saving

KPMG

saved 179 tonnes on CO2, and 2.1 million travel miles since 2002 by running the car share scheme

University of Derby

in the last year business mileage has dropped by around 10,000 due to the car share scheme and made actual annual saving of £4,000