A simpler, fairer future for parking in the city

The future of parking in Brighton & Hove will be simpler, fairer and better serve our city.

A report being presented to Cabinet next week will set out a parking plan that will be better for residents, support local businesses and help the growth of our visitor economy.

It follows a review of city parking, requested by councillors last summer, which looked at all parking, including permits, parking zones and on and off-street car parks.

The review has helped to set out a series of objectives and actions for an improved and sustainable service in both the short and long term.

• Parking in the city is fair and simplified. This includes simplifying parking tariffs and permit rules, aligning tariffs in parks with on-street parking and adopting one model for restriction days and times.
• Optimising resources. Reviewing and reducing tariffs in some car parks to encourage use during quieter periods, optimising all parking spaces in the city, and reviewing zone types and boundaries.
• Promoting a safer, healthier and accessible city. This includes reviewing restriction times and enforcement to better support the night-time economy, explore options for ‘virtual’ visitor permits and ensuring fair and effective parking enforcement.
• Supporting the city’s economy. Ensuring we’re getting the best use and value out of our car parks, keeping them well maintained and renaming them after nearby attractions to make them easier to find for visitors.
• Well run services. Introducing virtual resident permits and monthly payment options, review permit types to ensure they’re fit for purpose and investing in anti-fraud initiatives

Councillor Trevor Muten, Cabinet Member for Transport, Parking and the Public Realm said: “The review has been needed for some time and its now clear we need a new approach to parking in the city. I’m confident this plan will tackle the issues people have been telling us about and lead to a fairer, simpler and sustainable parking service for Brighton & Hove.

“It’s clear parking prices have increased to the extent they have become more of a deterrent than an incentive for some visitors. We have more than 200 different permit tariffs and the demand for parking has rippled from the city centre to outlying areas of the city. We need to change. 

“This plan will address all aspects of parking, from resident permits and restriction times to car parks and tariffs. It’s time to redress the balance between the high demand for parking and making sure it’s fair, equitable and easy to understand.

“We’re taking a holistic approach to travel and transport and want to give people real choices about how they move around the city.

Our Bus Service Improvement Plan is investing £28 million into making bus services better we’re leading the way in electric vehicle infrastructure while our 150 residents’ cycle hangars and active travel projects with dedicated space for bikes and pedestrians are making it easier to walk and cycle. All will lead to positive change for everyone.”

Short term action plan

As well as the long-term plan for parking, the report also outlines measures the council can take between now and April 2025 to improve parking services and help reduce the forecast shortfall in the parking income budget.

These include:

• Encouraging people to use under-used car parks through promotion and reducing prices,
• Introducing early bird/commuter rates,
• Considering a merger of overnight and evening tariffs,
• Offering weekend parking tickets

Following a review of parking zones in central parts of Brighton & Hove, we’ve also identified 56 additional parking spaces in zones X, Y (Central Brighton) and M (Brunswick & Adelaide) and 16 more in zone C (Queens Park area), improving availability for residents and visitors.

Councillor Trevor Muten added: “We have a long term plan, but there are practical steps we’re taking right now, such as reducing prices and introducing new tariffs, that will encourage more people to our under-used car parks and reduce the pressure on nearby on-street parking and busy car parks.

“We’ve also identified more parking spaces in busy parts of the city that will make it easier for residents and visitors to park.”