University car parking prices to increase for first time in two years from 1 September

Parking prices at the University of Warwick’s campus car parks are set to increase on 1 September, with commuters now set to pay £8.50 for a day’s parking. 

Hourly and daily parking rates on campus will increase by 50p, which means students wishing to park for a day on campus will now face tariffs which are £2.50 more than a return bus journey from Leamington or Coventry.

The increase will see the cost for two hours’ parking increase from £3 to £3.50, the cost for three hours increase from £4 to £4.50, and so on.

Staff and postgraduate researchers (PGRs), who have access to reduced parking fees on campus, will also see an equivalent increase to prices, taking the daily parking tariff from £3 to £3.50 for non-electric cars.

The University has said that the increase in tariffs – the first since October 2023 – is part of wider efforts to help ‘reduce our transport-related emissions, manage costs, and achieve our carbon reduction goals’

A weekly price cap which is in place for staff and PGRs will also increase by £1.50, from £9 to £10.50.

Evening and weekend tariffs, currently charged at £2, will also increase to £2.50, a move likely to affect visitors to the Warwick Arts Centre who are signposted to use the on-campus car parks.

The University has said that the increase in tariffs – the first since October 2023 – is part of wider efforts to help “reduce our transport-related emissions, manage costs, and achieve our carbon reduction goals”.

The University decided not to increase fees last year, instead opting to absorb increases to ‘rising’ maintenance costs.

It has now said, however, that changes to fees need to be made in the upcoming year as the cost to upkeep the infrastructure continues to increase.

Revenue from the increased fees will be directly reinvested into improvements and maintenance of the University’s car parks, including resurfacing works […] and new pedestrian pathways and crossings

Revenue from the increased fees will be directly reinvested into improvements and maintenance of the University’s car parks, including resurfacing works, extended mobility lanes, and new pedestrian pathways and crossings.

The University has also said that it hopes the increase in tariffs will “discourage single user car journeys” and promote the use of sustainable transport on journeys to and from campus.

Investments in these sustainable transport options, as well as public transport subsidies, will also be supported by the increased revenue received from the parking tariffs.

Over 70 new electric vehicle charging stations have already been opened on campus in a bid to reduce carbon emissions, with a further 100 points due to be installed by charging firm Zest over the next decade.

Blue Badge holders and motorcycle users will not be affected by the changes to parking tariffs, with these commuters continuing to enjoy free parking on campus.

The pricing increase will also not apply to the Sports and Wellness Hub car park, which operates on a different pricing level to other campus car parks. Sports Hub members can park at this car park for up to four hours for free.