Parking management Rethinking the future of UK parking Danny Hassett, managing director of Flowbird UK, says we need to reimagine the traditional car park to align with changes to our communities ccording to the Office for National Statistics, 44 per cent of workers adopted home or hybrid working in the last quarter of 2022. Coupled with the surge in online retail detracting from our high streets, this is changing how car parks continue to serve our towns and cities effectively. Creating convenient experiences for customers and the wider community will not only future-proof parking assets, but will drive footfall to local businesses and our high streets. For asset owners, rethinking the way we use underused parking spaces, by considering ancillary products and services, will create new revenue streams alongside traditional parking revenue. A Embracing electric Introducing electric vehicle (EV) charging is a way to create a competitive edge and attract EV drivers to a facility or high street. As we see a growing number of fleet owners and operators switching to EVs, this could have a meaningful impact on your bottom line. In addition to the traditional park-and-charge use case, many EV adopters are looking for safe places to charge their vehicles overnight. A dedicated area offering slow charging for fleets could result in effective use of car parks during quiet, night-time periods. Get creative Parcel-delivery lockers connect a car park to the local community and facilitate 24/7 last-mile delivery satisfaction. Incentivising locals to visit the car park to collect or send their parcels can, in turn, generate sales from convenience-oriented consumers performing this errand, while, in the background, generating consistent ground rent from the space occupied by the lockers. An increase in bike and e-bike sales since the pandemic has also created a high demand for amenities such as bike storage within town and city centres. Particularly for local authorities, Developing a deep understanding of the customer and the community that the car park serves will enable informed decisions about the right investment and best use of the underused space boosting the accessibility of a high street or a facility by adopting a balanced access strategy, with mixed-use parking facilities, shows a commitment to the environment, health and wellness initiatives. Councils and businesses with underused space can take opportunities to new creative heights. Self-storage lockers, dark kitchens (that make food for delivery only), electric scooter hubs, pop-up car showrooms, car washes, hairdressers, and digital vending machines are all ways to generate revenue from ground rent, or through revenue-sharing agreements. Lead by example Before making any commitments, its crucial to conduct market research and an analysis of car park data. Developing a deep understanding of the customer and the community that the car park serves will enable informed decisions about the right investment and best use of the underused space. Car parks already serve an essential function. However, with greater attention being paid to the worth of urban areas, and a heightened emphasis on sustainability, there is a chance for car park operators to provide greater benefits to the local community, help achieve environmental goals, and set an example for the future of car parks not only in the UK, but worldwide. 26 PN May 2023 pp26-27 Flowbird.indd 26 25/04/2023 11:44 1406_