People parking in Portsmouth city centre will see a change to parking, as a popular city centre car park comes under council control.

Portsmouth City Council is taking over the management of Market Way car park in the city centre from 16 May 2025, bringing it more in line with other council car parks in the area and offering new payment options for people parking and visiting shops.

This change helps achieve policies set out in the council’s Parking Strategy, and aims to support businesses in the area and strengthen the city’s economy as part of Portsmouth’s integrated transport strategy.

While the council encourages people to visit the shops on Commercial Road by walking, cycling, taking the bus, or using park and ride, Market Way car park remains a convenient option for those who need to drive.

Previously managed by National Car Parks (NCP), the car park will now offer cheaper hourly prices for people who need to drive and park in the city centre for short stays (less than four hours). For the first few weeks of the council operating the car park, customers will be able to pay for parking with coins or via the RingGo app, with contactless card facilities being added later in June.

The car park will now operate on a pay-when-you-park basis, rather than the previous pay-on-exit system. As with other council-owned car parks in Portsmouth, no QR codes will be used on parking machines and disabled people with Blue Badges can park for free.

Any previous season tickets offered by NCP will no longer be offered at this car park, but other NCP car parks in the city will remain available, and season tickets will also be available from the council. Any queries about NCP season tickets should be addressed to NCP directly at www.ncp.co.uk or by calling 0345 050 7080.

To make sure the car park is safe and accessible, some improvements need to take place in May, including resurfacing works. The car park will remain open throughout these works, though with a reduced capacity.

In a first for the city, new solar-powered parking machines will be installed, saving on energy costs and ensuring sustainability where possible. In the future, other sustainable transport options may be offered in the car park as travel within the city evolves, including electric vehicle charging points, rental e-scooter and e-bike docks, and parking for bicycles.

Cllr Peter Candlish, Cabinet Member for Transport at Portsmouth City Council, said: We’re pleased to take over and improve the Marketway car park, making it more like other council car parks and boosting the Portsmouth city centre economy. We’d still encourage most people to take the bus including Park & Ride, or walk or cycle whenever possible, but for those that need to drive and park, this will help get people to get to shops, businesses and attractions.

More information can be found at https://www.portsmouth.gov.uk/services/parking-roads-and-travel/parking/car-parks/ or by emailing parking.permits@portsmouthcc.gov.uk.

The new costs for parking will be as follows:

• Up to one hour: £1.70 (previously £1.95 via NCP app, and £2.95 via the parking machines)
• Up to two hours: £2.90 (previously £3.90 via NCP app, and £5.90 via the parking machines)
• Up to three hours: £3.90 (previously £5.85 via NCP app, and £8.85 via the parking machines)
• Up to four hours: £5.00 (previously £8.95 via NCP app, and £9.95 via the parking machines)