Drivers will be able to pay for parking seamlessly through one preferred app rather than downloading multiple from different providers. The National Parking Platform (NPP) promises to simplify parking by joining hundreds of parking sites into a single system, and connecting to the apps and payment methods drivers already use.

NPP is currently in use at 476 locations serviced by 10 parking operators, as confirmed on its website. It came following a decision by the Labour Party, which said the app comes at “no extra cost to taxpayers”. Labour Party’s Minister of the Future of Roads, Lilian Greenwood, added government is “dedicated to giving everyone simpler, more flexible parking”.

She said it forms part of an infrastructure upgrade as Government is investing £1.6billion through the Plan for Change to mend “pothole-ridden roads that damage cars”, and £4.8 billion to deliver new road infrastructure to better connect people. 

Anthony Eskinazi, Founder and President of JustPark and one of the directors of the National Parking Platform, said: “By allowing drivers to choose their preferred parking app, it eliminates unnecessary complexity and makes parking simpler and more convenient. It is ultimately about giving drivers genuine choice over their preferred app.”

British Parking Association Chief Executive, Andrew Pester, added: “Today’s announcement marks the result of 6 years of dedicated work by our parking sector to make paying for parking easier.

“We’ve strongly supported the National Parking Platform from the start, so we’re thrilled with this outcome and excited to collaborate with the Department for Transport and the new NPP company to create a better parking experience for all drivers.”

Rod Dennis, senior policy officer at the RAC, remarked: “Paying to park a car should be one of the simplest things any driver does, but things have got much more complicated in recent years – a point demonstrated by the fact there are so many different mobile parking apps.”

“If the arrival of a National Parking Platform removes that hassle, it’s definitely a welcome move. But the key will be ensuring as many car park operators as possible sign up to the system.”