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

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. 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.