Price changes for car parking to support environmental sustainability
11 Feb 2020
Message from Patrick Hackett about changes from 1 August
Dear colleague,
Planning and Resources Committee has approved an increase in car park charges as part of a plan to establish a fund for investing in environmental initiatives and secure parking facilities.
- Charges will increase from 1 August, but remain below market rates.
- No increase for grades 1 and 2 and PGR students, other increases linked to grade.
- Increase will enable £400,000 investment in environmental sustainability.
- Parking remains free for blue badge holders and 50% discount for ultra-low emissions vehicles.
The increased charges for staff will be introduced from 1 August 2020 to allow staff time to make alternative arrangements for commuting, if available. The increased charges for visitors and non-staff users will be implemented as soon as terms and conditions allow.
The University’s car park charges for staff and visitors were originally set in 2007 and there has been only one inflationary increase since that time. Even with the new increases, our charges will remain below market rates and are comparable to other similar institutions.
Full details of the changes can be found on StaffNet.
We have retained the principle of linking the charge to salary grade and have taken the step not to increase the parking charge for grade 1 and grade 2 staff, as well as postgraduate research students. Charges for grade 3 to grade 8 staff will increase by about 2/3 (to between £23.85 and £47.69 per month) and for grade 9 and above staff will increase twofold (to £67.33 per month).
Colleagues who are blue badge holders will continue to receive free parking and there will be a new scheme for colleagues who drive ultra-low emissions vehicles, providing a 50% discount for vehicles that emit less than 50g of CO2/km.
Currently, student parking permits are available to PGT and PGR students only. Undergraduate parking permits are available only to those who are blue badge holders or referred by DASS, OH, Students Services or Academic Schools and Disciplines with special circumstances. Parking will no longer be offered to new PGT students, unless they also have special circumstances as described above. PGR and undergraduate arrangements will remain unchanged.
The changes will generate additional income for our University, enabling us to invest around £400,000 a year in meeting our strategic objectives around environmental sustainability, supporting our aim to become zero carbon by 2038.
Improvements will include measures such as expanding the number of covered bicycle shelters, which are currently at capacity, and providing spaces for cargo bikes. Funding will be available to install showers and lockers and charging points for electric bikes and vehicles.
There will also be money available to improve the car parks themselves, addressing drainage, surfacing and security issues and removing disused car park cabins.
I believe that these changes are fair for colleagues at different levels of the organisation, but also allow us more scope to deliver on some of the environmental commitments which are at the heart of our new vision and values. Alongside the recently opened consultation on decarbonising our investment portfolio, I hope that this change shows our determination to tackle the climate crisis, while acting with integrity towards our people.
Regards
Patrick Hackett
Registrar Secretary and Chief Operating Officer