Government Publishes New Private Parking Code of Practice
On the 20th of October 2026, the Government laid the new Private Parking Code of Practice before Parliament, marking a significant step towards the implementation of a statutory framework for private parking across England, Scotland and Wales.
At Bransby Wilson Parking Solutions with our enforcement team Minster Baywatch, we have begun a detailed review of the Code and supporting Government publications to understand both the regulatory changes and the practical implications for the parking services we deliver on behalf of our clients.
Key Headlines
Our initial review has identified several notable developments:
- Maximum parking charges remain unchanged at £100
- 40% early payment discount remains in place for payments made within 14 days
- Additional escalation charges of up to £70 remain, with further Government consultation expected regarding debt recovery fees
- The Code applies across England, Scotland and Wales
- A minimum 5-minute consideration period is introduced (except for pre-booked parking)
- Expanded application of the 10-minute grace period, although different provisions apply to short-stay parking
- Changes to appeals and mitigating circumstances that may require parking charges to be cancelled in a wider range of situations
- Updated signage requirements, which we are currently reviewing in detail
Revised definitions of terms such as “parked”, “parking” and “stopped”, which may affect enforcement at some sites, particularly those with stopping restrictions - Mandatory operator certification through UKAS-accredited conformity assessment arrangements
- Additional requirements covering data retention, reporting and regulatory oversight
The published Code also contains detailed provisions relating to signage, accessible parking, ANPR usage, parking tariffs, parking charge notices and debt recovery processes.
What Does This Mean for Clients?
The most important message is simple:
Nothing changes immediately.
Current parking arrangements remain in place while the statutory process progresses and we continue our review.
We are assessing the impact of the new requirements across all managed locations, including:
- Signage and site terms
- Enforcement arrangements
- Consideration and grace periods
- Appeals processes
- Site-specific operational requirements
Where any changes are required, affected clients will be contacted directly and supported through the implementation process.
No action is required from clients at this stage.
Our Initial View
While the industry will now be reviewing the practical implications of the new Code, our early assessment is positive.
Minster Baywatch has long focused on delivering fair, proportionate and compliant parking management, often exceeding minimum standards rather than simply meeting them. As a result, many of the principles contained within the new Code already reflect practices embedded within our operation.
Although a detailed review is still underway, the publication of the Code raises no significant concerns for our business at this stage. We believe this places both Minster Baywatch and our clients in a strong position as the industry transitions towards the new statutory framework.
What Happens Next?
The Code has now been laid before Parliament and will progress through the statutory parliamentary process before implementation. The Government has also published a suite of supporting documents, including the Code itself, the Certification Scheme and the Final Stage Impact Assessment.
We will continue to review the requirements in detail and keep clients informed as further guidance, timescales and implementation details emerge.
Thank you for your continued trust in Bransby Wilson Parking Solutions.
