Overview

• On July 11 the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government launched an eight-week consultation on a legislation-backed Code of Practice for private parking operators.
• The draft code proposes mandatory standards, data collection requirements, an oversight framework and penalties for non-compliance by parking firms.
• Motoring organisations including the AA and RAC have criticised the draft for retaining a £100 cap, preserving debt recovery charges and lacking an independent appeals service.
• Industry bodies such as the British Parking Association and International Parking Community say voluntary reforms like a 10-minute grace period and consistent signage are already improving standards.
• Data for April 2024–March 2025 shows private companies issued 14.4 million fines—a 13% increase on the previous year—fueling calls for a statutory code since the 2022 withdrawal of the original binding regulations.