Innovation
Network Rail

Rail Station Parking Strategy and Car Park Design Guide

Innovation

Project background

Nationwide

Location

Innovation

Category

Parking Matters supported a strategic Network Rail initiative on developing multi-storey car parks at stations to increase parking capacity and free up land for development, by creating a toolbox to assess suitable sites. We then drafted a new design guide for Network Rail to inform potential investors of requirements for new car parks at railway stations, covering good car park design, sustainability, and future-proofing considerations.

What we did

  • Supported Network Rail in a strategic initiative to develop multi-storey car parks (MSCPs) at its stations.
  • Collaborated with Knight Frank to develop a methodology for MSCP delivery on Network Rail’s land.
  • Considered effective land use, improved car parking facilities, commercial returns, and supporting rail passenger growth.
  • Addressed potential barriers such as viability issues, planning constraints, and conflicting interests within stakeholders.
  • Conducted a preliminary study analysing emerging pilot schemes to identify and prioritise potential MSCP sites.
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Outcome

  • Developed a ‘toolbox’ to assess suitable candidate sites for the strategic initiative.
  • Produced a new design guide for potential investors in railway station car parks.
  • Provided advice on car park design principles, space planning, accessibility, and sustainability, and potential for repurposing car parks as community assets.
  • Encouraged consideration of future developments in digitisation, EV charging, and community asset repurposing and considerations for choice and installation of car park systems.
  • Design Manual NR/GN/CIV/200/12 “Third Party Funded Railway Car Parks”.
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