Car park operator NCP’s administrators are pursuing drivers for outstanding parking fines despite the company’s collapse earlier this year. NCP entered administration in March, jeopardizing nearly 700 jobs and managing approximately 340 car parks nationwide.
According to The Times, in the initial month of administration, authorities recovered £402,000 from unpaid fines. At the time of collapse, NCP had a backlog of almost 100,000 unpaid parking charge notices. This included approximately 15,000 cases pending in courts and an additional 80,000 managed by debt collectors. Despite the administration, NCP retains the ability to enforce existing fines and issue new ones.
Following the collapse, 29 NCP car parks have shut down. The remaining locations are operational as administrators from PwC seek new ownership. NCP typically leases rather than owns the majority of its car parks, facing financial challenges due to reduced parking demand post-Covid, attributed to a shift in commuting habits towards hybrid work setups.
Particularly impacted were city-center and commuter sites. NCP struggled with expenses tied to long-term, unyielding leases on unprofitable properties. Established in London in 1931, NCP is owned by Japanese company Park24, offering varied parking prices across its sites, with central London rates reaching up to £60 for a day’s parking.
Joint administrator Zelf Hussain of PwC acknowledged the tough market conditions NCP faced, emphasizing a commitment to service continuity during review processes. Engaging with stakeholders, including landlords and employees, the administrators are exploring all possibilities, including potential business sales, to secure the best outcomes for creditors.
