Over the past few months you’ve no doubt heard about a new Code of Practice that aims to improve drivers’ experience of private parking facilities.
A lot has been written about the Code since it was announced in April, but what does its introduction really mean for car park users and owners?
To help, we asked our compliance experts at Creative Car Park to produce a FAQ that will answer your key questions about the Code.
What is the new private parking Code of Practice?
Put simply, the private parking sector single Code of Practice is a consolidated set of rules that private car park operators in the UK are expected to follow. It was created and published by the two independent trade associations representing private car park operators – the British Parking Association (BPA) and the International Parking Community (IPC). According to BPA Chief Executive Andrew Pester, the Code of Practice aims to “deliver fairer and more consistent parking standards for motorists.” In practice, it means that all private parking operators will adhere to the same set of rules and provide greater consistency for motorists, especially in relation to clarity of wording on signs, grace periods and most importantly, consistency in relation to how appeals are handled and mitigating circumstances are taken into account by operators.
What is considered a private car park?
This is any car park located on private property, owned by a business, landlord or parking management company. Private car parks should not be confused with public car parks, which are situated on public land and are operated by local authorities. Public car parks and parking spaces, and land that is subject to byelaws, are subject to their own specific rules and regulations.
Why is it called a ‘single’ Code of Practice?
Prior to the publication of the new Code of Practice, parking enforcement on private land has been overseen by the BPA and IPC. This has resulted in a situation where the provisions of each Code often varied. In 2019, The Government introduced the Private Parking Act, the main aim of which was to raise standards in the industry and provide a more consistent set of rules for private parking, both within the private sector itself and also the public sector. The new consolidated Code of Practice provides operators with a single set of straight-forward rules that will, in the words of the BPA and ITC, “raise standards and deliver greater transparency and consistency for the benefit of motorists.” In short, the same parking rules should apply to motorists, regardless of who owns or operates the private car park they’re using.
What guidance is included in the new Code?
Full details can be found in the Code which is available to download here. The key points are as follows:
- Appeals Charter: The introduction of an Appeal Charter that creates clear and transparent parameters for motorists to appeal against parking charges.
- Grace period: A mandated 10-minute grace period added to the end of each parking session during which parking charges cannot be issued. Read more here.
- Clear signage: Signage must be visible, legible and unambiguous to drivers, giving clear instructions and displaying the parking/access terms and conditions. Read more here.
- Blue Badge bay protection: No decrease to the deterrent for abuse of designated Blue Badge bays, or those who park selfishly.
- Parking charge cap: Parking charges will be capped at £100, reduced to £60 if paid within 14 days.
These rules sound like common sense – why doesn’t the private parking sector already follow them?
Most private car park operators already do. The Code of Practice serves as a single set of rules to be used across the entire private parking sector, to raise the standards of all operators. At Creative Car Park we’ve always prided ourselves in operating fairly and ethically, to deliver a positive parking experience for the motorists who use our customers’ car parks.
What are the implications for operators who fail comply?
A sanction scheme will be used as a mechanism to encourage compliance. For the most serious levels of non-conformance an operator may receive suspension or expulsion from the accredited trade associations.
How does the BPA and IPC’s Code relate to the government’s own statutory Code of Practice?
The government first introduced its Private Parking Code of Practice in February 2022 and withdrew it in June that year, pending a review. The BPA and IPC’s Code aims to ensure the key elements of the government Code are implemented as soon as possible, while the sector awaits the government’s updated version.
What are the timelines for the introduction of the Code?
Private parking operators must implement the Code by October 2024, and all existing sites must meet the new standards in full by December 2026. As a proud BPA approved operator, Creative Car Park will ensure all of the sites we manage are compliant by these dates, if not already.
Want more information? Check our blog regularly as we’ll be posting more about the Code and how the key elements work over the coming weeks.
