We want your views on how to improve parking in Portsmouth. Whether you drive, walk, cycle, wheel or take public transport, have your say to help us develop a strategy that works for everyone.
Have your say on our draft Parking Strategy consultation
You have until midnight on Sunday 29 October.
These proposed changes are a part of our vision to transform how we travel within our city and the wider region.
You can also share your views on our Electric Vehicle Strategy (EVs)
Have your say on our draft Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Strategy consultation
If you would like help completing this consultation, or would like to request a paper copy, please call us on 023 9261 6708.
Come and speak to us
We’ll be at locations across the city to speak to you about the consultation and hear your thoughts about what we need to consider about parking in Portsmouth. We’ll regularly update this page with details about where you can come and speak to us.
North End Library, PO2 9AX
Wednesday 27 September, 2pm-6pm
Cosham Library, PO6 3EB
Wednesday 4 October, 11am-5pm
Commercial Road, Portsmouth
Wednesday 11 October, 2pm-6pm
Gibson Centre, PO5 4BU
Thursday 12 October, 5.30pm-7.30pm
We’ll also host several smaller pop-up events during the consultation:
Square Tower, Old Portsmouth, PO1 2ND
Monday 2 October, 10am-2pm
Mountbatten Centre, Hilsea, PO2 9QA
Tuesday 3 October, 10am-2pm
Palmerston Road, Southsea, PO5 3PP
Friday 6 October, 10am-2pm
College Park, Copnor, PO3 5EF
Tuesday 10 October, 10am-2pm
Alderman Lacey Library, Baffins, PO3 6HU
Tuesday 17 October, 10am-12.30pm
Bransbury Park, PO4 9SU
Friday 27 October, 10am-2pm
If you see us, please come and have your say!
Overview
Read the full draft parking strategy
Portsmouth is also one of the mostly densely populated urban areas in the UK outside of London, with a population of approx. 217,000 that is expected to grow to 236,000 by 2041. Over 8,000 business are located in the city and Portsmouth receives 9.3m visitors a year. This means there is a high demand for parking for both residents and businesses in the city.
Our Local Transport Plan also contains the vision that by 2038, Portsmouth will have a people-centred, connected, travel network that prioritises walking, cycling and public transport to help deliver a safer, healthier and more prosperous city.
Parking
Parking affects everyone in the city, so we want your help in developing our strategy for the next few years. We know there’s several challenges to meet the parking needs of everyone, and we’ll work to address them. These include:
- People have different needs for parking in Portsmouth
- Using a private car is seen as more convenient
- Resistance to parking spaces being used by vehicles other than private cars
- Car parks in the city are owned and managed by a number of different organisations
- There may be more cars than available spaces in some areas
- Lack of viable alternative transport options
- Portsmouth Park and Ride may not be viable for everyone to use
Objectives
To address these challenges head on, we’ve identified three main objectives. You can read about these below, along with what we aim to do to achieve these objectives.
Encourage sustainable development, regeneration and prosperity in Portsmouth through effective management of parking
Expanding the Portsmouth Park and Ride to create a transport hub
We want to expand the Portsmouth Park and Ride to make it the first parking choice for people commuting, shopping in, or visiting the city. This will help regenerate the city centre, as well as help to reduce pollution and traffic congestion.
Explore parking initiatives in the city centre
We want to review all public car parks to consider the cost people pay, how good quality the parking facilities are, and whether they’re in the best locations.
Support economic growth
We want to support businesses in the city by improving parking in key areas. In the city centre and harbour, we’ll look at improving short-stay parking for people visiting shops and attractions both in the day and evening.
We’ll also look at seafront parking, and how best to provide short and medium-stay parking for people visiting attractions or travelling to and from the Isle of Wight.
Supporting the quality of life for residents and visitors
Using smart technology
We’ll investigate how to use more smart parking technology to let people know where parking spaces are available
Promoting flexible use of kerbside space
We want to review the priority of uses at kerbsides, especially where there are competing needs at different times of the day. This could include private vehicle parking, loading and unloading, drop-offs and pick-ups, and alternative modes of transport.
Regular review of Resident Parking Zones (RPZs)
We want to prioritise on-street parking in residential areas for people who live there. We’ll regularly review permit arrangements, including size and type of vehicle, how much a permit costs and the number of permits allowed per household.
Improve the environment though supporting improvements to air quality and reductions in carbon emissions
Improving sustainable travel
We’ll investigate how to prioritise road space for people on bicycles or using public transport, especially in areas where there’s a lot of parking congestion. We’ll consider on-street and off-street parking for shared transport, like Car Club vehicles.
Encouraging fewer vehicles
There’s a lot of demand for parking in many parts of Portsmouth where there is generally only room for one car outside each house. This means there’s lots of demand for on-street parking but not enough spaces for all. We’ll aim to manage the demand for on-street parking while reducing the need for private vehicles by providing alternative options.
Read the full summary of the draft Portsmouth parking strategy
Have your say on our draft Parking Strategy consultation
What happens next?
Once we’ve collated all the feedback from the survey, we’ll take recommendations to a Transport decision meeting later this year. The draft strategy will then be created and published, and will help us improve parking for everyone in the city over the coming years.
