The seven storey, £40m facility has around 1,300 spaces for patients, visitors and staff, including over 70 disabled parking bays, almost double the total currently available.
It will also operate a ‘pay on exit’ system using ANPR (automatic number plate recognition), offer 30 minutes free parking and – in time – provide more than 100 charging bays for electric vehicles.
Disabled parking bays are at the closest point to three fast, fully-accessible lifts on all floors and there is a parking hub which is staffed 24 hrs a day.
Access to the car park is from Thomas Sawyer Way. A pedestrian bridge from level 2 removes the need to walk up and down the steepest part of the slope at the site.
Charges and concessionary rates have been reviewed. Free parking is offered to:
- Carers who are assisting patients at meal times and with other care
- Next of kin of patients who are receiving end of life or critical care
- Parents/carers/guardians of children who are inpatients
- Patients who attend outpatient clinics three times or more each month over a period of at least three months.
- Blue badge holders
And concessionary rates (£24 per week / £48 per month) are available for very frequent attenders.
Car parking charges at the hospital sites apply 24 hours, Monday - Sunday. Patients and visitors can now park in any space for up to 30 minutes free of charge, making it much easier to drop off and collect people.
The charges for patients and visitors are:
UP TO 30 MINUTES FREE IN ANY UNRESTICTED SPACE
- Up to 1 hour: £3.50
- Up to 2 hours: £5.00
- Up to 3 hours: £7.00
- Up to 4 hours: £8.00
- Up to 5 hours: £9.00
- Up to 6 hours: £10.00
- Up to 12 hours: £12.00
- 12 to 24 hours: £15.00
Staff parking charges are tiered to reflect salaries and will move from a monthly deduction to a ‘pay as you park’ system later this year. Public charges have been set to be in line with other hospitals in the region and also to contribute to the cost of the much-improved new parking facilities.
Charges are necessary to help cover the costs of running the car park including, capital charges arising from the £40m build cost, ground rent; the staffing; lighting; technology and maintenance. There had been some national funding which allowed NHS hospital staff to park for free but this ceased at the end of March 2022. Income from charges is used only to pay for parking-related costs.
Paddy Hennessy, the trust’s director of environment, said: “Staff feedback has been very positive and we are looking forward to welcoming patients and visitors to the new multi-storey car park.
"Local people should take heart that we have completed the new multi-storey car park on time and on budget as this bodes well for our exciting hospital redevelopment plans.”
The trust is currently developing a Green Travel Plan as part of its sustainability strategy and to support the NHS targets for achieving net zero carbon by 2040. To contribute to this, the new multi-storey car park includes photovoltaic roof panels which provide renewable energy for the hospital.