Intelli-Park’s releases new ‘Parking Matters’ report

The key findings of this new report indicate that cost and security are the main priorities for drivers when seeking a place to park more than two in five (42%) are spending less than £5 on parking a month in 2023 vs 46% in 2013. More motorists (26%) are also satisfied with the level of security available today compared to 18% in 2013.

Cost of parking

Despite cost-of-living increases across many aspects of UK budgets, it’s good news for motorists, as Intelli-Park’s report reveals car parking spending has not significantly increased over the past ten years.

• More than two in five (42%) are spending less than £5 per month on parking compared to 46% in 2013.
• However, the percentage of drivers paying £30 or more per month has risen from 8 to 13% in the past decade.

Cost is the number one priority for today’s motorists, which has risen in significance from 37% to 61% over the last decade. However, despite prices being relatively static over time, overall satisfaction with the cost of parking has decreased. The report indicated that the driving factor for this attitude could be that motorists are feeling the pinch in other areas due to rising inflation and cost-of-living demands. Improving the cost and experience for car park users could help to combat this for car park owners, improving the overall experience of using the car park could lead to more frequent use and therefore spend being increased.

 Security satisfaction

Meanwhile, satisfaction with car park security has increased over the last ten years, which has been linked to increased car park surveillance, with vehicle crime rates decreasing by 8.7% from 2015 to 2021 (Uswitch). Car park security was hailed an important factor by 90% of motorists, with three quarters (76%) saying they would be more likely to choose a car park if it was Park Mark-accredited. However, some car parks could benefit from improvements, as only 1 in 4 drivers stated they were ‘very satisfied’ with the last car park they used.

Other priorities when choosing a car park included lighting (63%), security (60%) and cleanliness (54%).

Parking Investment

Additional areas of the report focused on proposed investment in car parks to meet the needs of users. One in five car park owners plan to increase investment over the next year, with the focus being on sustainable travel planning (79%), last mile delivery (75%), tech and data integration (71%) and autonomous vehicles (39%).

And while the number of car parking owners who have invested in Electric Vehicles (EV) charging points currently stands at 71%, 63% of EV drivers believe there are not enough UK-wide points. This comes at a time when 74% of EV drivers would be more likely to visit destinations with charging facilities.

The diversification of car parking spaces is key for owners in order to create more commercial opportunities and effectively optimise space that is not currently in use. From Amazon lockers to dark kitchens there are many options for car park owners, managing agents, private landowners and tenants to utilise spaces and drive further usage.

Stuart Harrison, Chief Strategy Officer at Intelli-Park and British Parking Association (BPA) President said: “It’s been interesting to explore how parking trends have changed and to uncover the statistics and motivations behind the key changes over the last ten years.

“Our report is a clear indication of how UK car parking continues to evolve, revealing not just how consumers use car parks, but how car park owners view and use the spaces too. What we have before us now is an extremely valuable real-life barometer of 21st-century parking behaviour and views that can be used to make informed decisions about future car park design and usage.”

In addition to understanding current attitudes, the report is aimed at identifying evolving parking expectations and needs, with car park owners being recognised as playing a key role in delivering this future vision.

Ben Cooke, CEO of Intelli-Park, said: “Whilst cost and security are driving factors for motorists when choosing a parking space, the report highlights the undeniable evolution of EVs and the pressing need to bolster the required infrastructure within the mobility sector. We recognise this pivotal shift and are committed to playing a leading role in facilitating the seamless integration of EV-charging solutions.

“Balancing the growing demand for EV charging while not neglecting the space required for non-EV drivers will be an interesting challenge for site owners over the coming years. Continuous innovation and sustainability is undoubtedly central to shaping and creating car parks of the future that are responsive to ever-evolving needs and integral to helping achieve a more environmentally responsible landscape. The move to EV is not the only diversification that is needed within the industry, in order to keep up with consumer habits and demands car parks must look to create additional usage drivers such as, postage lockers, drop-off points and rentable commercial spaces.”

For a copy of the full ‘Parking Matters’ report, visit intelli-park.com/carparks-parking-matters-2023/