National Car Parks (NCP), Britain's largest car park operator, has announced the permanent closure of 22 sites, set to take effect within days. This decision follows the company's entry into administration earlier this month, marking a significant blow to its nationwide network.
Administrators Confirm Immediate Shutdowns
Administrators from PwC have confirmed that the 22 car parks will cease operations at 11:59pm on Friday, March 27. They stated that these locations are "no longer commercially viable to operate," leading to their immediate closure. The move comes as NCP grapples with "insufficient cash available to meet its financial obligations," according to official statements.
Financial Turmoil and Pandemic Impact
NCP's financial performance has deteriorated sharply in recent years, largely due to the lingering effects of the Covid-19 crisis. Demand for parking has failed to rebound to pre-pandemic levels, particularly in city centre and commuter areas. This decline, coupled with a shift in working patterns, has left many of its car parks with excessive empty spaces.
Compounding these issues, NCP has been burdened by long-term, inflexible leases on numerous sites. This has prevented the company from reducing costs or divesting unprofitable locations, resulting in persistent trading losses. The firm, which employed 682 people and operated 340 car parks across the UK, including at airports, hospitals, and major urban centres, has struggled to adapt to the new economic landscape.
Employee Redundancies and Ongoing Operations
Regrettably, the closure of these 22 sites will lead to 33 employees being made redundant on March 31. Administrators have assured that affected staff will receive support through the statutory redundancy payments process. Despite these shutdowns, the remaining 318 NCP car parks will continue to operate, with no further closures currently planned.
Full List of Affected Car Parks
The following NCP car parks are scheduled to close permanently:
- Ashford County Square
- Ashton-un-Lyne Cotton Street
- Banbury Marlborough Road
- Bexley Royal Oak Road
- Birmingham Gough Street
- Bournemouth Hinton Road
- Bristol Nelson Street
- Bromley Travelodge
- Cardiff Dumfries Place
- Eastbourne Trinity Place
- Exeter Market Street
- Grantham Station 1 - 3
- Hinckley Britannia Shopping Centre
- Ipswich Portman Road
- Leicester Abbey Street
- Leicester East Street
- Leicester Lee Circle
- Leicester Rutland Centre
- London Harley Street (previously Portland Place)
- London Kings Cross St Pancras (previously Judd Street)
- London Knightsbridge
- Luton Regent Street
This development underscores the broader challenges facing the parking industry as it navigates post-pandemic recovery and evolving consumer behaviours.
